Atlanta’s recent struggles against New York continued on Tuesday as the Hawks absorbed a stinging six-point defeat to the rejuvenated Knicks. Poor execution down the stretch derailed the Hawks who will now look to snap their two-game spin against the much-maligned Philadelphia 76ers.
Can Atlanta end its losing streak tonight? Or will Philadelphia pile more misery on them? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this Eastern Conference matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers Preview
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
When: Thursday, January 7, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Atlanta Hawks (-9) at Philadelphia 76ers (+9); total: 205.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: CSN
Betting on the Atlanta Hawks (21-15)
The Atlanta Hawks crashed to their second consecutive defeat with a gut-wrenching 107-101 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. The Hawks had no answer for Carmelo Anthony and Arron Afflalo who each scored 23 points. It was another disappointing result for the Hawks who have now lost their last two meetings with the Knicks.
[sc:NBA250 ]The Hawks will look to get their season back on track when they face the Philadelphia 76ers tonight. For the Hawks to snap their losing skid this evening, they will need to improve on their play inside the shaded area. They were outscored by the Knicks, 46-36, inside the paint on Tuesday. To make matters worse for head coach Mike Budenholzer, his side was also outrebounded by New York, 46-41.
The onus then is on Al Horford and Paul Millsap to assert their authority underneath the basket against Philadelphia. They combined for just 32 points and 17 rebounds on Tuesday. They will be licking their chops, however, at the prospect of facing a Philadelphia defense that’s allowing 42.4 points inside the paint per game this season. In fact, Horford and Millsap combined for 38 points in their first meeting with the Sixers this season. The Hawks easily won that contest, 127-106.
The Hawks are 8-1 SU and 6-3 ATS in their last nine meetings with the Sixers.
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Betting on the Philadelphia 76ers (4-33)
The Philadelphia 76ers finally snapped their two-game losing skid with an impressive 109-99 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. Five players scored in double-figures for the embattled 76ers who have now won three of their last six games.
Providing the impetus for the Sixers’ improbable resurgence is new acquisition Ish Smith. The Sixers have averaged 100.7 points and 24.2 assists in six games with Smith after previously scoring a league-low 91.4 per game with just 18.8 assists. He displayed his importance in the win against Minnesota, posting team-high numbers of 21 points and 11 assists. The six-year NBA veteran is averaging 14.7 points and 8.2 assists since being reacquired from the Pelicans.
They will look to grab back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they take on the reeling Atlanta Hawks tonight. For Philadelphia to record a major shock this evening, it needs to clamp down on Jeff Teague and the entire Atlanta offense. The Hawks guard wreaked havoc against the Sixers’ defense in their first meeting this season, grabbing 18 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in a sterling all-around performance. Atlanta had a field day in that contest, shooting a season-high 61.5 percent in a one-sided 127-106 win.
The onus then is on Smith to pressure Teague right from the get-go and disrupt an Atlanta offense that’s averaging 101.8 points per game this season. Smith showed he can also impact a game defensively, racking up three steals in the win against Minnesota. Apart from Smith, the Sixers also need to get some solid production from Nerlens Noel. He is averaging 15.0 points and 9.2 boards in his last six games.
The Sixers are 2-8 SU and 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Atlanta (-9) wins, 103-89.
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