Injuries and inconsistent play have given the Cleveland Cavaliers (18-12) a hard time living up to their preseason favorite label. The Atlanta Hawks (22-8), on the other hand, are having a stellar season thus far, as they continue to reign atop the Southeast Division.
Will the Cavaliers bounce back from a sorry loss against the Detroit Pistons? Or will the Hawks one-up Cleveland in their season series, which is currently tied at 1-1?
Find out more about this game below. You can also click here to read our preview for the Raptors and the Trail Blazers game, also on Tuesday night.
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks Betting Preview
The holiday season isn’t too happy for LeBron James and company. That’s because the Cavaliers have lost two of their last three games, including a 101-91 loss against the Miami Heat on Christmas and a 103-80 setback at home against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
[sc:NBA240banner ]James had a lackluster performance in the Pistons game. James scored 17 points but went 5-for-19 from the field for a season-worst 26.3 field goal percentage. Overall, the Cavs shot just 37.8% (31-for-82), as they felt the absence of Kyrie Irving (knee). Irving hasn’t played in two games since scoring 25 points against Miami. If the All-Star guard sits again against Atlanta, then expect coach David Blatt to insert Matthew Dellavedova in the starting lineup. Dellavedova chipped in just three points but had six assists against Detroit.
Dellavedova isn’t likely to provide much scoring against the Hawks, judging from his 3.6 PPG season average. That means Dion Waiters, will play a major role off the bench. Waiters is averaging 14.2 PPG over the Cavs’ last five games. He scored 21 points in the Cavs’ 127-98 loss at home against Atlanta.
The Cavs and the Hawks have split their first two meetings this season, with each winner going lights-out from the three-point area. Cleveland knocked down 19 triples against the Hawks’ three three-pointers in its 127-94 win over the Hawks on November 15. Atlanta returned the favor the second time around, draining 16 three-pointers against the Cavs’ eight. Cleveland is making 7.9 three-pointers per game on 34.7% shooting.
James scored 32 and 21 points in those two meetings, respectively.
The Hawks wouldn’t mind being overlooked so long as they keep on winning. Atlanta continue to be the surprise team from the Eastern Conference, as the Hawks recorded their sixth win in the last seven games by scoring a 90-85 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
The trio of Jeff Teague, Al Horford, and Paul Millsap led the Hawks’ attack against Milwaukee. Teague recorded a game-high 25 points, Millsap had 17, and Horford added 20. Those three players will be at the forefront again of Atlanta’s offense which has averaged 101.9 PPG when the team hosts the Cavs this coming Tuesday.
Teague didn’t play in the last meeting with Cleveland to deal with a hamstring issue that forced him to miss three games. The Hawks didn’t seem to need him, though, as DeMarre Carroll and Dennis Schroder stepped up their game to combine for 23 points to cover for Teague’s missing production. Teague is the Hawks’ leading scorer, averaging 16.6 PPG.
Teague is also Atlanta’s top assist man with 6.9 dimes a game. The Hawks’ offense is predicated on excellent ball movement, which their league-leading 25.7 APG average shows. This was highlighted when the Hawks registered 36 assists in their win over Cleveland on December 17.
The Cavaliers love to run (13.2 fast break points per game), but Atlanta seems to be up to the task of stopping James and company. The Hawks’ transition defense allows just 10.3 PPG, second fewest in the league.
Atlanta is 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.
