The Atlanta Hawks (19-44) visit the nation’s capital Friday to play the Washington Wizards (22-39) at the Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Hawks-Wizards odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Hawks at Wizards: Key injuries
Hawks
- PG Trae Young (illness) questionable
- C Dewayne Dedmon (elbow) probable
- PF Bruno Fernando (shin) probable
- C Clint Capela (heel) out
- SF Cam Reddish (back) out
- PF Skal Labissiere (knee) out
- SG DeAndre’ Bembry (abdominal) out
Wizards
- PG Ish Smith (hamstring) out
- PG John Wall (Achilles’) out
Hawks at Wizards: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Wizards 128, Hawks 104
Moneyline (ML)
Trae Young (illness) hitting the injury report is concerning for anyone looking to back Atlanta (+145) since they are 2-4 straight up in games without Young. The Hawks won the last meeting against the Wizards (-176), 152-133 Jan 26, but that was keyed by Young’s 45 points and 14 assists. The season series is split 1-1, and these two teams have alternated wins and covers in each of their last 10 meetings.
The Hawks are an abysmal 14-29 with a minus-7 average margin of victory, and the Wizards are a decent 18-20. I have more faith in Washington’s ability to bounce back than an Atlanta team that has the worst road record in the NBA (6-25) and is only 2-9 in Friday games. But, we are going to PASS ON THE STEEP MONEYLINE in favor of a line wager.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Washington enters today’s game with at least a fighting chance at earning a playoff berth while the Hawks are the second-worst team in the East. The Hawks were routed in its last game, 127-88, by the Memphis Grizzlies Monday as was Washington by the Portland Trail Blazers, 125-104, Wednesday. Many of the Hawks cited effort as the reason for the beating, and it should certainly be a question mark with nothing to play for a banged-up roster.
The Wizards -3.5 (-110) are 16-13 ATS at home and 8-10 ATS at home versus losing teams. Atlanta is a poor 10-18 ATS on the road and 4-11 ATS on the road versus losing teams. Definitely monitor the injury report up until game time, but based on the current info, WIZARDS -3.5 (-110) is the sharp play.
Over/Under (O/U)
It’s rare to see a total as high as 245.5, but the last Hawks-Wizards meeting was one of the highest-scoring games in the NBA this season. Both have a propensity to play in shootouts: Atlanta and Washington have the fourth- and fifth-highest Over percentage in the NBA. But a Young-less Hawks team is a lot less offensively productive. Atlanta has gone Under the projected total in each of the six games Young has missed.
BET UNDER 245.5 (-115).
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