Hawks vs Pelicans: Injury-Riddled Teams Clash in New Orleans

The Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Pelicans are set to face off on Sunday, November 3, at the Smoothie King Center, with both teams dealing with significant injury issues. The Hawks, currently on a four-game losing streak, are desperate for a win ahead of their Monday matchup against the Boston Celtics. Atlanta’s offense, led by Trae Young, has been decent but not elite, while their defense has suffered greatly due to injuries. The Hawks are 11th in the NBA in points per game (PPG), 15th in field goal percentage (FG%), and 2nd in free throw attempts (FTA), but they struggle defensively, ranking 28th in PPG allowed and 30th in 3-point percentage allowed.

The New Orleans Pelicans, with a 3-3 record, are also battling injuries. Key players Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones are out, while Jordan Hawkins is listed as questionable. Despite these absences, the Pelicans managed to snap a three-game skid with a 125-118 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday, led by Zion Williamson‘s 34 points and 10 assists, and Brandon Ingram‘s 26 points and seven assists.

The game is expected to be high-scoring, given the defensive vulnerabilities of both teams. The Pelicans are favored by 4.5 points, and the total is set at 229 points. The Hawks’ bench, particularly Garrison Matthews and Keaton Wallace, has been a bright spot, with Matthews scoring 23 points and hitting seven three-pointers in their last game against the Sacramento Kings.

The Pelicans’ center rotation, featuring rookie Yves Missi and Daniel Theis, faces a challenge against the veteran duo of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu of the Hawks. If Dyson Daniels returns for the Hawks, it could provide a significant boost to their defense. However, with multiple key players out for both teams, the outcome will heavily depend on which role players step up.

Betting odds favor the Pelicans, with New Orleans -4.5 and the over/under set at 229 points. The Hawks have failed to cover the spread in their last eight games, while the Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last five games against Southeast Division opponents after winning as underdogs.