Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks – NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 4 – Saturday, April 26, 2014 Betting Preview and Prediction

Jeff Teague and the Atlanta Hawks can only shrug in disbelief at how easily they’re beating the no. 1 seed Indiana Pacers. With a raucous home crowd behind them, can the no. 8 Atlanta Hawks push the Pacers to the brink of elimination with another home win in Game 4?

Read on for all the analysis you need to bet on this critical Game 4 and claim a 50% deposit bonus to get your bankroll rolling today.
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Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers Round 1, Game 4 Betting Preview

Series Schedule & Results

Game 1 – April 19, Atlanta 101 Indiana 93

Game 2 – April 22, Atlanta 85 Indiana 106

Game 3 – April 24, 7:00PM ET, Indiana 85 at Atlanta 98

Game 4 – April 26, 2:00PM ET, Indiana (-2) at Atlanta (+2); total 186.5 – view all NBA lines

Game 5– April 28, 8:00 PM ET, Atlanta at Indiana

Game 6 (if necessary) – May 1, Indiana at Atlanta

Game 7 (if necessary) – May 3, Atlanta at Indiana

Betting on the Indiana Pacers

The Indiana offense that scored 101 points and shot 53% from the field in Game 2 gave way to the more familiar offense that has struggled all season on Thursday night, as the Pacers could only muster 85 points on 38% shooting in Game 3.

[sc:NBA240banner ]Lance Stephenson (21 points and 13 rebounds) and Luis Scola (17 points after 20 in Game 2) played very well – the two scored 24 of the Pacers’ 27 fourth quarter points – but Paul George’s offense (12 points, 3-for-11 shooting) turned back into a pumpkin after 27 points in Game 2.

Coach Frank Vogel finally decided to bench the ineffectual Roy Hibbert for the entire fourth quarter. Benching Hibbert would have seemed absurd earlier in the season when the man was dominating the paint, but not so of late. Expect a frontline of Scola and David West, who had 16 points in Game 3 after scoring 16 in the first two games combined, to provide more scoring punch in Game 4.

On the other end, the Pacers’ defense that so ably guarded the three point line all-season has not been able to stop the Hawks’ three-point barrage. The three-ball has been the Hawks’ main weapon on offense, one the Pacers must take away in Game 4 and beyond.

The Pacers are now just 4-16 ATS in their last 20 road games.

Betting on the Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks haven’t been playing particularly exceptional basketball against the Pacers. They’ve shot just 43% or below in all three games, including sub-40% in the last two. In Game 3, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague combined to shoot just 10-for-31 (32%) from the field.

But the Hawks are now up 2-1 in the series because of their three-point shooting has been good. Atlanta has hit 33-of-93 three-pointers (35%) so far in the three games. Unless the Pacers find a way to take away the three, expect the Hawks to just keep jacking them up in Game 4.

Despite his poor shooting, Jeff Teague continued to attack and set up his teammates to end up with 22 points and 10 assists in Game 3. Among the teammates he helped were wings DeMarre Carroll and Kyle Korver, who combined for 38 points on 12-for-17 shooting. If those two provide anything close to that production in Game 4, then the Hawks are in tremendous shape.

The Hawks are 15-2 SU in their last 17 home games vs. Indiana.

Writer’s Prediction

Full of confidence and a pumped up home crowd, the Hawks will win Game 4 comfortably to take a stranglehold on the series. Cash in on them on the money line at +110 – a $10 bet pays $11 profit on this scrappy Atlanta team.
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