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The Atlanta Hawks continue their road trip in Salt Lake City where they square off against the surging Utah Jazz on Friday night at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Utah.
Unable To Find A Groove
The Hawks are currently at 16-34 and in 12th spot in the Eastern Conference. They trail the 8th seeded Charlotte Hornets by a wide eight games and making the playoffs may be looking too far ahead right now. What the Hawks need is consistency as they have not been able to find a groove this season. Atlanta has neither won nor lost more than three games since the start of December 2018.
The Hawks are 19th in scoring at 110.2 points per game. Atlanta is ranked 10th in passing at 25.6 assists per game this season and they are also the 14th best rebounding team this season at 45.3 rebounds per game. However, the Hawks rank last in scoring defense as they allow their opponents to score a league-hgh 117.9 points per game
Atlanta Hawks vs Utah Jazz 2/1/19
Moneyline Odds: Hawks +650, Jazz -850
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 2/1/19
Winning With Defense
Following a slow start, the Utah Jazz have risen to the 7th spot in the Western Conference with their 29-23 record. The Jazz are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games and they have been winning with their defense. Utah is currently ranked 5th in the league in Defensive Efficiency at 103.3 points allowed per 100 possessions.
The Jazz offense is averaging 108.6 points per game and is ranked 21st among 30 NBA teams. Utah is also ranked 12th in passing at 24.9 assists per game and 17th off the glass with 44.9 boards per contest. As we said earlier, the strength of the team is its defense as they are allowing the fifth fewest points per game in the league at 105.7 points.
Who Wins?
The Hawks are 4-6 SU in their last six games played. Atlanta is 3-3 SU in their last six road games. The Jazz are 8-2 SU in their last eight games played. Utah is 6-1 SU in their last seven games played at home. Head to head, the Hawks are 7-3 SU in the last 10 encounters between these two squads.
The Hawks meanwhile are playing the fifth stop of a seven-game road trip. Surprisingly, the Hawks are 2-2 so far on this trip and have been playing well as of late because of John Collins and Trae Young. The Hawks also got back Kent Bazemore from the injured list and he is expected to make significant contributions to this team. The Hawks are 16-34 but at 4-6 in their last 10 games, they have no intention to tank.
Unfortunately, the Hawks will have to feel the wrath of a Utah team that wants to get back on track and continue their ascent in the team standings. Rudy Gobert was one of the notable snubs on the All-Star teams and look for him to make a statement here too.
I’m picking the Utah Jazz to beat the Atlanta Hawks on 2/1/19.
Other Bets To Make
Atlanta is 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Hawks are 3-3 ATS in their last six road games. Utah is 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Jazz are 2-4-1 ATS in their last seven home games. Head to head, the Hawks are 2-1 ATS in their last three games against the Jazz.
Atlanta Hawks vs Utah Jazz 2/1/19
Spread Odds: Hawks +11.5 (-109), Jazz -11.5 (-109
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 2/1/19
The Hawks are 5-1 ATS in their last six games after an ATS loss and 5-2 ATS in their last seven against the Western Conference. Utah is 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games against the East but are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six Friday games. I think the Jazz are going to win this game but not cover what I feel is a very steep line. While the Hawks are just 3-4 ATS in their last seven games as double-digit dogs, the Jazz are more terrible as double-digit favorites at home as Utah is just 1-5-1 in their last seven games under that condition. This despite the fact that they went 6-1 SU in those seven games. I’ll take the plus points and the underdogs here.
Prediction: Hawks +11.5
The total has gone over in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Hawks. The over is 4-2 in Atlanta’s last six road games. The total has gone over in three out of the last four games played by the Jazz. The under is 5-2 in Utah’s last seven home games. Head to head, the under is 6-4 in the last 10 games between these two teams.
Atlanta Hawks vs Utah Jazz 2/1/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 226.5 -109, Under 226.5 -109
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 2/1/19
Utah’s elite defense and Atlanta’s sloppy offense aren’t good partners to go over the posted total score. Not especially in Utah where the Jazz have seen the total go under in 12 out of their last 15 games played there. The Hawks will try to speed up the game with their league-leading pace but Utah’s defense should be able to get the stops to keep the total under.
Prediction: Under 226.5
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