The Golden State Warriors stretched their winning run to three games with a remarkable comeback victory Wednesday over the Dallas Mavericks. Extending their winning streak to four games won’t be that easy for the Warriors, however, as standing in their way this coming Friday are the red-hot Atlanta Hawks who are winners in 20 of their last 21 games.
Who will emerge victorious in this showdown between conference leaders? Read on below for a preview of this much-anticipated clash and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Houston Rockets here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Golden State Warriors vs. Atlanta Hawks Betting Preview
Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta
When: Friday, February 6, 2015, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Golden State Warriors (-1.5) at Atlanta Hawks (+1.5); total: 215.0 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
No lead is safe with these Golden State Warriors.
The Western Conference leaders battled back from an early 22-point deficit to stun the Dallas Mavericks, 128-114, Wednesday night. Stephen Curry powered the Warriors’ comeback win with 51 huge points on 16 of 26 shooting from the field. He was even deadlier from beyond the arc where he buried 10 out of 16 three-point attempts for a whopping 62.5 percent clip.
[sc:NBA240banner ]The whole Warriors team was on fire from the three-point area, draining 19 three-pointers against the Mavericks. That’s the most three-point shots they have scored in a game over the last four seasons. They also tied the Cleveland Cavaliers for the most threes scored in a single game this season.
The Warriors lead the league this season not only in three-pointers made per game (10.5) but also in three-point field goal percentage, shooting at a high 38.9 percent clip. It’s no surprise really with the Warriors boasting of two of the best premier shooters in the league today.
Of course, we’re talking about Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. This season, the Splash Brothers have drained a combined average of 6.3 three-pointers per game. They have benefited greatly from the Warriors’ ball movement which has been the staple of Steve Kerr’s coaching stint with Golden State so far.
In fact, the Warriors lead the league in assists this season with 27.3 dimes per game. They showed their penchant for sharing the basketball in their game against the Mavericks where they recorded a total of 29 assists.
They will have a battle in their hands, though, against one of the best defensive teams in the league today in the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are third in the league in scoring defense this season, allowing just 96.5 points per game.
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Betting on the Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks returned to their winning ways with a 105-96 victory over the Washington Wizards Wednesday night. It was a great bounce-back win for the Hawks who saw their 19-game winning streak snapped Monday by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jeff Teague made sure that the Hawks will not endure a losing streak this time around, scoring 26 points and dishing out eight assists to help Atlanta improve its slate to 41-8. Teague has been a vital cog in the Hawks’ rise this season, averaging 17 points, 7.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
Teague, however, is not the only reason why the Hawks are surging right now in the Eastern Conference. In fact, the Atlanta Hawks’ entire starting five – Teague, DeMarre Carroll, Al Horford, Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap – was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January.
It was an unprecedented move by the league but deservedly so after the Hawks compiled the first ever 17-0 record in a calendar month in NBA history last January. Carroll started in 14 games in January, averaging 12.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. Horford averaged 17.1 PPG and 7.8 RPG for that same month while Millsap put in team-highs of 18.3 PPG and 8.0 RPG during that stretch as well.
Kyle Korver played and started in 16 games last month, averaging 13.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG. He led the Eastern Conference not only in three-point field goal percentage but also in three-pointers made as well. Korver is a perfect fit for the Hawks’ offensive system which relies mainly on ball movement and spacing.
Thanks to Korver’s outside sniping, the Hawks are now second in the league in three-point field goal percentage with an outstanding 38.8 percent clip this season. Draining their long bombs will not be that easy, however, against the Warriors who are one of the best perimeter-defending teams in the league today.
The Warriors are third-best in three-point defense this season, with opponents burying just 32.3 percent of their three-point attempts against them. Regardless of that fact, the Hawks will fancy their chances against the Warriors because of the way they’re moving the basketball this campaign. They are second in the league in assists this season, averaging 25.9 dimes per game.
Writer’s Prediction
Atlanta (+1.5) edges past Golden State, 105-101.
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