Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport
Atlanta Hawks vs Denver Nuggets: Can the Hawks fly in the Mile-High City?
The Atlanta Hawks are visiting the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Saturday.
The Hawks are safe in the play-in zone
The Atlanta Hawks are tenth in the Eastern Conference with a 36-41 record and have clinched the play-in berth. They have won six of the last eight games and are coming off a 109-95 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Hawks are fifth in the league, averaging 118.8 points per game, and are ranked sixth with 13.8 three-pointers made per game. In the absence of injured Trae Young, Dejounte Murray is the best player on the team, averaging 22.5 points and 6.4 assists per game.
The Nuggets are going for the top seed in the West
The Denver Nuggets are second in the Western Conference with a 53-24 record. The defending champions have lost three of the last five games and are coming off a 102-100 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nuggets are attempting a league-low 31 three-pointers per game and are ranked fifth in the league, shooting 49.4% from the field. Nikola Jokic is the front-runner in the MVP race, averaging 26.5 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9 assists per game.
Betting Trends
The Nuggets are 5-1 ATS in the last six games against the Hawks. Denver is 15-5 SU in the last 20 games, 16-4 SU in the last 20 home games and 7-0 SU in the last seven games against teams from the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is 2-5 ATS in the last seven games on the road and 2-6 ATS in the last eight games against teams from the Western Conference.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Denver Nuggets are tied for the best record in the West but are not the ones who have the top seed. There is enough time until the end of the regular season for the Joker and his teammate to secure a home-court advantage in their run to defend the title. The Nuggets are not having a good week and are coming back home after a loss to the Clippers. The Hawks have secured a place in the play-in tournament, and the only difference may be who and where they are going to play. There is a huge gap between these two teams, and the Nuggets will definitely get back on winning track with a comfortable win covering the -12.5-point spread.
