The Hawks (3-3) are looking to go from playoff team to title contender. That’s easier said than done; Atlanta found that out the hard way during defeats against Houston and Miami. Saturday presents a chance for the visitors to boost their record against the struggling Pelicans (1-4). Still, New Orleans has more than enough talent to pull off an upset tonight.
The Hawks enter today’s matchup as 4.5-point favorites over the Pelicans, with the total set at 240.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Saturday’s Atlanta vs. New Orleans contest.
Hawks vs. Pelicans prediction, preview
Atlanta has had its ups and downs through just two weeks of play. As previously mentioned, the team dropped two straight against the undefeated Rockets. To boot, a Wednesday matchup at home with Miami ended in defeat. Still, there have been some stellar moments from Quin Snyder’s club. Taking down the playoff-caliber Cavaliers on Thursday, the second leg of a back-to-back, was impressive to say the least. The Hawks are operating at the NBA’s sixth-quickest pace (102.4) while scoring the association’s sixth-most points per game (119.2). This might be the sport’s most diversified offensive attack; six different players are averaging at least ten points per game. Leading the charge as always is triple-double threat Jalen Johnson.
Defensively, the Hawks have been a bit weaker than expected. Keep in mind, the front office made a splash when they brought aboard Lu Dort from the Thunder. The former All-Defensive Team member is one of the NBA’s ultimate pests, and he’s capable of latching onto any opposing scorer. Atlanta’s perimeter defense hasn’t been the issue, holding teams to lackluster 31.3% shooting from three-point range. However, the Hawks rank within the sport’s bottom ten clubs in assists (28.5) and rebounds (46.5) allowed per game. The latter mark is especially concerning; dominating the glass is one of the few ways to neutralize an uptempo offense.
Things are already looking bleak on the Bayou. Having earned one win over five contests, the Pelicans are already near the bottom of the Western Conference. Head coach Jamahl Mosley’s team doesn’t resemble his low-scoring, defensively-minded Orlando squads. New Orleans is scoring the NBA’s fifth-most points (119.4) and allowing the fifth-most (121.6). To boot, the club is operating at the second-quickest pace in basketball. Making matters worse, key contributors Yves Missi (knee) and Jordan Poole (ankle) are sidelined tonight as well.
It hasn’t been all bad for New Orleans. The trio of Zion Williamson (21.8 PPG), Dejounte Murray (17.8 PPG) and Trey Murphy III (14.2 PPG) have all been effective. As a unit, the Pelicans are connecting on 48.9% of their field goal attempts as well, fourth-best in the association. Unfortunately, subpar play on the other side of the floor has been too much to overcome. Teams are making just under 50% of their shots against New Orleans. Only Sacramento’s defense (51.2 FG%) has been worse this season. The absence of starting center Missi will only make things more difficult inside the paint.
Best Bet: Hawks -4.5 (-110)
Atlanta isn’t a perfect team by any means, but Snyder’s crew has depth. It’s a far different story for the current iteration of the Pelicans, carried almost entirely by its three best players. The Hawks have no issue with pace, so it’s not as if New Orleans can catch them by surprise while playing fast. In a potential shootout, I’d rather back the visitors on Saturday night.
