The Atlanta Hawks will face off with the Philadelphia 76ers tonight in a key Eastern Conference matchup. The Hawks need to adjust course after a two-game losing skid that continued yesterday against the Heat. In contrast, the 76ers will look to continue a two-game winning streak without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and James Harden. The Hawks are narrow road favorites in the NBA odds, and bettors looking to make a profit on tonight’s action should tail these Hawks-76ers picks and predictions.
NBA Odds: Hawks-76ers Odds
Atlanta Struggling Without Capela
The Atlanta Hawks will enter Monday night’s contest looking to get right. The loss of Clint Capela has hurt this team’s defense, but it doesn’t excuse a 6-point loss to the Houston Rockets and an 8-point loss to the shorthanded Miami Heat. Backup center Onyeka Okongwu must step up and play better.
The Hawks have not played efficient basketball this season. They rank 20th in net rating (-0.7). 20th in offensive rating (110.4) and 14th in defensive rating (111.1). Still, the decision to add Dejounte Murray in the offseason has looked smart — the Hawks are 5.8 points net better with him on the floor. They are 5.7 points net better when Clint Capela plays and 5.1 when Trae Young plays. However, they are 6.4 points net worse when Okongwu sees the floor.
Capela is questionable for tonight’s action with dental pain. If he can’t suit up, the Hawks will again turn to Okongwu to defend the rim. Although Okongwu has started the season inefficiently, he was a positive defender just last season. The Hawks will need him to rediscover that form as soon as possible. The Hawks have also listed both De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson as questionable. Both players suited up for Atlanta on Sunday.
Philly Winning Without its Stars
The Philadelphia 76ers have been without their three best players for their last three games. Joel Embiid is the closest to returning and is questionable for tonight’s matchup. Tyrese Maxey and James Harden remain weeks away from returning, so bettors shouldn’t expect either player to suit up tonight. Defensive specialist P.J. Tucker also went down with an injury on Sunday but is probable for tonight’s action.
The season-long stats don’t mean much for the 76ers, but they rank a solid sixth in net rating (+4.1). They are 8 points net more efficient with Tucker on the floor and five with Embiid. However, losing both Maxey and Harden to injuries has forced De’Anthony Melton to take on a larger role, and they are 8.3 points net less efficient with him on the floor.
Shake Milton, not Tobias Harris, has led the 76ers in points scored over Philadelphia’s last three games. He also leads the team in assists. The 76ers have leaned more on their interior scoring with their big three out — although the 76ers have averaged only 44.2 points in the paint per game this year, that number jumps to 55.3 when looking at their last three contests. Philadelphia just scored 72 points in the paint against Orlando on Sunday.
Final Hawks-76ers Prediction & Pick
This game is tough to handicap with both Capela and Embiid listed as questionable. The spread sits at nearly a pick-’em and the total at 221. But even if Capela sits, bettors can find a slight edge on the under. The 76ers play at the NBA’s fourth-slowest pace and are 5-2 to the under as a home favorite. They have earned a total in the 220s only seven times this season and they stayed under it in all but two games.
The lack of rest may hurt both teams’ defensive efforts, but the 76ers are a solid 8-6-1 to the under when playing without rest. The Hawks are a concerning 10-8 to the over, but the return of a rested Capela would give them a significant boost defensively. Still, bettors should limit their exposure to a half unit because of the uncertainty surrounding which players will start.
Final Hawks-76ers Prediction: Under 221 (-110 for 0.55 Units) at DraftKings
