Hawks Host Pacers in Crucial Eastern Conference Clash Tonight

ATLANTA, Georgia — The Atlanta Hawks will host the Indiana Pacers in an Eastern Conference showdown Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena. Currently, the Hawks hold a 28-34 record and are ninth in the East, while the Pacers stand at 35-25, positioning themselves fifth if the playoffs started today.

Indiana comes into the game on a five-game winning streak against the Hawks, having covered the spread in four of those meetings. The latest odds show the Pacers favored by 3.5 points, with an over/under set at 248.5 points, according to SportsLine consensus.

“Before making any decisions, it’s crucial to consider the insights provided by The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times,” CBS Sports stated. The Model has been highly successful over the past six seasons, returning more than $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks.

The Hawks are attempting to rebound from a 127-121 loss earlier this week against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Trae Young scored 28 points and provided 13 assists. His teammate, Onyeka Okongwu, added 21 points off the bench. However, Atlanta struggled defensively against the Thunder’s performance, particularly from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who notched a triple-double.

Despite this setback, the Hawks are relying on Young, who has been instrumental throughout the season, averaging nearly 24 points and 11 assists. However, Atlanta has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games.

Additionally, the Pacers are competing with momentum after a solid 115-102 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, where Tyrese Haliburton shined with 28 points and 15 assists. Indiana has fared well against the spread lately, covering in five of their last seven games and holding a 7-3 record in their last ten matchups against Atlanta.

However, the Pacers face some injury concerns, as star point guard Haliburton is listed as questionable due to a hip issue. Further complicating matters, Bennedict Mathurin‘s availability is also uncertain because of a wrist injury.

“The Hawks’ defensive performance will be tested against a Pacers offense that ranks in the top ten in both offensive rating and points per game,” analysts noted. “Atlanta’s defense is ranked 27th in points allowed per game, creating potential challenges as both teams vie for the crucial playoff positions.”

The SportsLine Model has also projected an outcome for this face-off, leaning towards an Under total, estimating just 237 points combined. Additionally, the model predicts one side of the spread to hit well over 50% of the time. For bettors, this game not only presents a competitive matchup but also highlights opportunities for valuable picks.

As each team gears up for a crucial match that could shift playoff standings, they will need to address their inconsistencies and focus on offensive and defensive strategies. The game promises to be a key moment in the ongoing 2024-25 NBA season.