On the second night of a back-to-back
The 4-15 Atlanta Hawks have lost their last nine games and will head to the contest playing on the second night of a back-to-back. On Saturday, they were defeated by the Indiana Pacers in overtime, 105-104, despite Trae Young matching a career-high 49 points.
Young is quickly establishing himself as an elite threat on offense through averages of 27.9 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.3 threes per game. No one is capable of being a one-man team, though, and it is clear that he and the Hawks are missing the services of their other rising star, John Collins (17 PPG, 8.8 RPG), who’s currently suspended due to a PED violation.
With Collins out, Young’s main scoring support has been Jabari Parker (17.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG) and rookie DeAndre Hunter (11.7 PPG). Although Parker appears to be in his best shape since suffering a string of injuries and Hunter is playing like a future solid pro, it’s a bad sign that a team is relying on such guys to be second and third options – on Hunter’s case, for now at least.
The Hawks have lost six straight road games and they are currently in the bottom four in points allowed (117. 7 PPG) and defensive efficiency.
Looking to build a new winning streak
The 12-6 Houston Rockets snapped a three-game skid on Thursday with a 117-108 win over the Miami Heat. It was a good way to end the losing streak as it also got them their revenge on a Heat team annihilated them in a previous meeting.
As the Rockets aim to go back into their winning ways, expect the two constant things in the team’s system: threes and James Harden. Those two aspects should factor heavily all season, especially when it’s against an opponent that’s playing on consecutive nights. Houston paces the league in made threes at 15.2 per game and Harden is sitting atop the scoring ladder at 37.7 per game.
Russell Westbrook (22.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 6.8 APG) will continue being the other key producer on the Rockets, whose explosive attack should be in an entertaining match-up with Young.
Clint Capela (14.6 PPG, 14.7 RPG) enters another favourable battle in the paint but note that he is day-to-day due to an illness. He missed Thursday’s game against Miami.
The Rockets are 7-2 at home this season.
PREDICTION:
Trae is on the heels of another great performance that ended in a loss and there’s a good chance his shot won’t fall as much. The Rockets win handily, 120-102.
