Hawks Aim for Fourth Straight Win Against Struggling Pelicans

The Atlanta Hawks are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, December 2, at State Farm Arena, with the Hawks seeking to extend their winning streak to four games. The Hawks, currently 10-11 overall and 5-5 at home, are riding a three-game winning streak after narrowly defeating the Charlotte Hornets 107-104 on Saturday. Jalen Johnson led the team with 20 points and nine assists, while Onyeka Okongwu contributed a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The New Orleans Pelicans, on the other hand, are struggling with a 4-17 record and an eight-game losing streak. They were heavily defeated by the New York Knicks 118-85 on Sunday, marking their lowest-scoring game of the season. The Pelicans have been plagued by injuries, with key players like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Herb Jones out or questionable for the game.

The odds favor the Hawks significantly, with a spread of Hawks -9.5 and an over/under of 229.5 points. The Hawks are also favored on the money line, with odds of -445 compared to the Pelicans’ +350.

C.J. McCollum has been a bright spot for the Pelicans, averaging 20.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. However, the team’s overall performance has been hampered by injuries and poor team cohesion.

Trae Young, the focal point of Atlanta’s offense, is averaging 21.4 points and 12.1 assists per game. The Hawks’ bench has also been performing well, with De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic expected to contribute significantly.

The game is expected to be an uptempo contest, given the Hawks’ high pace ranking in the NBA. Despite the Pelicans’ defensive struggles, they may see some improvement if Brandon Ingram returns from his injury.