Hawks vs Cavs Thursday Prediction | NBA Picks Today, Best Bets
John Canady
Host · Writer
The Atlanta Hawks are set for a battle with the top seed in the Eastern Conference on Thursday night when they travel to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Atlanta enters this matchup three games under .500 as the injury woes continue to take a toll on the team’s inconsistent play. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers head into battle with a 38-9 record despite being 5-5 in their last 10 games. Nonetheless, while the Hawks desperately look to snap their six-game losing streak, Cleveland will have to do their best not to overlook their undermanned opponent.
Hawks vs Cavaliers
- Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland, Ohio) | Date: Thursday, Jan. 30
- Where to Watch: TNT/truTV/Max | Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Spread: Cavaliers -10, Moneyline: Cavaliers -430, Total: 238.5
Hawks vs Cavaliers Best Bet: Cavaliers -10
The Hawks enter this matchup fresh off the news that breakout star Jalen Johnson has been ruled out for the year with a season-ending injury. Still, Quin Snyder has gotten impressive effort from his squad that consistently rolls into battle shorthanded and, more times than not, lacks talent compared to their competition. However, the Cavs look like a true contender under Kenny Atkinson, and their recent struggles could result from Cleveland starting to overlook their competition. Despite the Cavs falling victim to the Hawks 117-101 in their last matchup, expect them to show up in a big way on Thursday night.
Hawks vs Cavaliers Best Total Bet: Under 238.5
Both teams have the firepower to put points up quickly this season, but the Cavaliers’ offensive success has been far more consistent than the Hawks. Cleveland has the best offensive rating at 121.3. On the flip side, Atlanta resides in the bottom half of the league at the 20th spot with an offensive rating of 110.0. Assuming trends stay the same, there’s a low chance that this game surpasses the set total of 238.5. A final score of 121-105 seems realistic.
Hawks Best Player Bet: De’Andre Hunter 20+ Points Scored +135
De’Andre Hunter has finally taken the leap in his sixth season that the Hawks brass has been waiting on since drafting him with the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Virginia product is averaging 19.1 points while shooting 46.1% from field goal range and 39.4% from three. With Johnson going down, Hunter should be in line for an increased volume, looking to relieve Trae Young from all scoring responsibilities. Not to mention, the forward has scored 20+ points in both meetings with the Cavs this year.
Cavaliers Best Player Bet: Evan Mobley 20+ Points Scored +150
Evan Mobley enters this matchup in a unique position where he’ll either be named as an All-Star reserve moments prior or find out he was snubbed from this year’s All-Star team. Regardless, Mobley will hit the floor with something to prove whether he has a chip on his shoulder or is looking to prove he’s more than worthy of the honor. Like Hunter, Mobley surpassed the 20-point mark in each matchup against the Hawks this season, which is a good sign for tonight’s battle.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
