Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young, who emerged as a revelation for the Atlanta Hawks last year, started this season just as powerfully as he finished the last. In the first two games, Young led the Hawks forward, scoring 38 and 39 points respectively, but he slowed down a bit in the third game. In the match, which ended with a 103-105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Young scored 25 points but shot poorly from the field, making only 7 out of 20 attempts, though he added 9 assists. Another young talent on the Hawks team, John Collins, contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds in the game against the 76ers. Rookie DeAndre Hunter also had a good game, missing just one rebound to record a double-double. He finished the game with 14 points and 9 rebounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVPSjnRxTG0
In the first two games, the Hawks players shot over 50% from the field, but in the lost game against the 76ers, they shot only 43%. Although the team made 23 assists and stole 12 balls, poor shooting prevented them from winning.
Miami Heat
The Heat team, which added Jimmy Butler and Meyers Leonard in the offseason, remains one of the “dark horses” of the Eastern Conference, as the assembled roster is really competitive and can surprise, provided all key players avoid injuries. However, at the start of the season, injuries are preventing them from fully getting into the game – James Johnson still can't play, Dion Waiters was suspended by the club itself, and the chances of Kelly Olynyk and Udonis Haslem appearing on the court in this game are still in question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDg7lQvBcUc
The Heat will also enter this game after a loss, which they suffered against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an away game. The standout in that match was rookie Kendrick Nunn, who wasn't even drafted. He scored 25 points, shooting over 50% from the field. Justice Winslow added 20 points, and Duncan Robinson, coming off the bench, also added 21 points, but it wasn't enough to secure a win. The Heat shot 49% from the field but committed 21 turnovers, resulting in a 109-116 loss to the Timberwolves.
TOP Betting Companies for NBA Bets
Betting Trends
- The Hawks covered the spread given by bookmakers in all 3 games played;
- The Hawks covered the spread in 6 out of 7 games against the Heat;
- All 3 Hawks games this season ended with unders;
- The Heat covered the spread all 3 times this season;
- All 3 Heat games ended with overs.
Head-to-Head History
Since both teams are aiming for the playoffs this season, every win in head-to-head matchups is extremely valuable. Out of the last 5 meetings, the Hawks won 3 times, while the Miami Heat won 2 times. The last 2 meetings were won by the Heat.
Injured Players
For the Hawks, Allen Crabbe and Chandler Parsons will not be seen tonight;
For the Miami Heat, James Johnson, Derrick Jones Jr., and Dion Waiters will not appear tonight. It is still unclear whether Udonis Haslem and Kelly Olynyk will play in this game.
Prediction
Both the Hawks and the Heat started the season by covering the lines set by bookmakers, but tonight one of the teams' streaks will end. Although both teams have a lot of potential on offense, the Hawks have looked much better on defense so far, currently ranking 6th in the league for the fewest points allowed, averaging 101 points per game. The Heat team is currently ranked 8th in three-point shooting, while the Hawks are ranked 3rd in the fewest three-pointers allowed. It will be very interesting to see which team's trends will prevail in this game.
However, since Jimmy Butler will debut for the Heat tonight, and his form and chemistry with the team's rookies are unclear, it wouldn't be surprising if the Miami team struggles a bit today and their offense isn't as strong as in previous games, especially since their opponent is one that has defended well at the start of the season.
Trae Young looks impressive at the start of the season, and the team has enough good helpers to keep the Hawks in the fight until the end of the game and not lose by more than 8 points.
