Perhaps no team in basketball has been as surprising as the Suns (27-17, 5th in West). Despite trading away Kevin Durant last summer, Phoenix is in prime playoff position. Still, Friday’s road date in Atlanta won’t be a walk in the park. The Hawks (21-25, 10th in East) are feisty, led by do-it-all forward Jalen Johnson.
Who will come out on top in this inter-conference showdown? Here’s my preview, prediction, and pick for Friday’s Phoenix Suns vs. Atlanta Hawks matchup.
The Suns are 3.5-point favorites (-108) over the Hawks on DraftKings Sportsbook. Phoenix is favored at -162 on the moneyline. The total for this contest is set at 232.5 points.
Suns vs. Hawks prediction, preview
It’s been a group effort for the Suns, led by first-year coach Jordan Ott. However, it takes more than just role players to make a contender. Leading the charge, as always, is Devin Booker. The veteran is already a franchise legend, enjoying his 11th year in Phoenix. This season, he’s posted 25.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. However, this hasn’t been a one-man show. Accompanying Booker is none other than Dillon Brooks. The longtime pest has delivered a career year in Arizona. He’s currently averaging 20.5 points per game on 44% shooting.
What makes this Phoenix squad so formidable is on the other end of the floor. The Suns possess the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating (113.3), stifling most teams. Key to that success has been forcing opponents into critical mistakes. They’ve forced the third-most turnovers per game (16.8) in all of basketball. Seven different players on this roster are generating at least 1.0 steals per game.
If there’s a weakness for Phoenix on defense, it’s down low. Mark Williams is the only Suns player capable of protecting the rim at a high level. In comparison, Atlanta is scoring the association’s tenth-most points in the paint per game (51.6). Jalen Johnson has been the catalyst for this Hawks offense, putting together a breakout campaign. Over 42 games, the wing has recorded 23.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists. That level of all-around production puts the 24-year-old in a rare class of NBA superstars.
A mediocre supporting cast is what’s holding back the Hawks. They have an offensive rating of 114.3, only good enough for 22nd in the NBA. To make matters worse, Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) and Zaccharie Risacher (knee) are both injured. That means more minutes for middling reserves such as Corey Kispert and Mouhamed Gueye. Atlanta has lost four of its previous five games, including two at home. The Hawks have scored the tenth-fewest points in basketball during that time.
Suns vs. Hawks pick, best bet
This is a battle between two clubs going in opposite directions. Phoenix comes into tonight’s contest having won six of its last eight games. As previously mentioned, the Hawks have gone 1-4 over their last five outings. Arguably the most impressive feat for the Suns is their 13-12 road record. In comparison, Atlanta has gone just 7-13 at home. Those trends are impossible to ignore going into Friday’s matchup.
