The Atlanta Hawks return home after a short two-game road trip to face the Milwaukee Bucks this Friday. Read on for more about this matchup plus our pick and predictions.
Catch this game live on Friday, April 16, at 7:30 AM, Manila time
HOME TEAM: Atlanta Hawks (30-25, 14-10 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Brandon Goodwin
- SG: Kevin Huerter
- SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic
- SF: Solomon Hill
- C: Clint Capela
The Hawks are ravaged with injuries, but their recent record doesn’t make it seem so. They have gone 7-1 straight up over their last 8 games and 3-0 SU in their last three.
Atlanta has missed the services of star guard Trae Young in their last two games, but thanks to Bogdan Bogdanovic stepping up, the Hawks have survived the Charlotte Hornets (105-101) and the Toronto Raptors (108-103) in the last two games, respectively — both on the road. Bogdanovic scored 55 points and shot 54.2% from deep in those pair of contests. Clint Capela has also been a monster down low for Atlanta of late. He had 19 points and 21 rebounds against the Raptors.
Capela’s sore right hand prevented him from playing in the first meeting with Milwaukee way back in January — a 120-115 home win for the Bucks — but he’s now healthy and ready to be a huge problem for Milwaukee’s defense. The Hawks have covered the spread in 8 of their last nine games as the home team.
ROAD TEAM: Milwaukee Bucks (34-20, 16-12 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Jrue Holiday
- SG: Donte DiVincenzo
- SF: Khris Middleton
- PF: Bobby Portis
- C: Brook Lopez
Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t played in any of the Bucks’ last six games because of a left knee issue. Even without him, the Bucks got by with a 3-3 SU record during that stretch, while going just 2-4 against the spread.
Those two covers, however, came over their last two games, including Thursday’s 130-105 victory on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It can be assumed that the Bucks just opted to rest the Greek Freak on the first leg of a back-to-back set against a lowly T’wolves team that didn’t have Karl-Anthony Towns. If Antetokounpo can’t go, the Bucks have a lot of bodies to compensate for what they are going to miss from him.
Khris Middleton has averaged 22.5 points in his last four games. Bobby Portis, who’s gotten a bump in minutes with Antetokoumpo temporarily shelved, has put up 14.3 points in his last five. As a team, the Bucks have made 40.6% of their threes over the last 10 games, third-best in the NBA in that span.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Hawks are winning despite a banged-up roster. Plus they are well-rested compared to the Bucks who travel to Atlanta after just playing the T’wolves on Thursday. Take the Hawks +5.5.
Over/Under: The Bucks outrebounded the Hawks, 62-33, in the first meeting. Atlanta’s not going to be killed on the glass like that with Capela active and especially if Antetokounmpo doesn’t play. The Hawks will get plenty of second-chance opportunities here to help them slow the game down. Atlanta is 22nd in the NBA with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes. Take the Under 228.5.
