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Atlanta will go on the road following a three-game homestand when it travels to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks lost the first two games before bouncing back with a 127-119 win against Golden State on Friday. San Antonio has lost back-to-back games in overtime, falling to Dallas and Memphis.
Hawks in need of another win
Atlanta won five straight games in the middle of January before losing four of its next five games. The Hawks have been hovering around the .500 mark for virtually the entire season, and they are exactly at that mark heading into this game. They beat Washington in two straight games earlier this month before losing to Boston and Minnesota in their following two games. Atlanta wrapped up its three-game homestand with a 127-119 win over Golden State on Friday, as star guard Trae Young led the team in scoring for the sixth straight game. He poured in 41 points in the loss to Minnesota and had 25 points against the Warriors.
TRAE STEAL FTW 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Ef6OWcxJop
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 18, 2023
Young also recorded his 34th double-double of the season when he had 12 assists against Golden State. Forward John Collins finished with 22 points after scoring 17 in the opening quarter, while Onyeka Okongwu scored 19 points. They won their first meeting with San Antonio this season in a 125-106 final on Feb. 11 in Atlanta. The Hawks are currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, sitting 2.5 games back of Miami and one game ahead of Toronto. They rank fifth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 117.4 points per game, and they will be facing a San Antonio defense that is dead-last in points allowed (122.1).
Spurs coming off another disastrous loss
San Antonio has been one of the worst teams in the league throughout the season, losing 16 games in row from the end of January to the end of February. The Spurs have been much more competitive in their nine games since then, picking up four outright wins during that stretch. They are coming off back-to-back crushing losses, falling to Dallas and Memphis in a pair of overtime games. San Antonio was a 4-point underdog against the Mavericks and a 9-point underdog against Memphis. The Spurs shot just 39.8% from the floor in their loss to the Grizzlies.
A competitive edge on both the court and the driving range 😂🏌️♂️
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 18, 2023
Follow along a fun night out with @Devonte4Graham in the newest episode of Beyond the Game pres. by @SWBCServices 🌟 #ad pic.twitter.com/3O0ily6CwB
They led Memphis by 29 points four minutes into the third quarter before things completely unraveled. Devin Vassell scored 25 points, Zach Collins had 24 and Keldon Johnson finished with 21. Keita Bates-Diop had 12 points before leaving with an Achilles injury, and he is doubtful to play on Sunday. Rookie forward Jeremy Sochan exited with a knee injury, while Romeo Langford (left adductor) and Devonte’ Graham (hip) were both sidelined as well. San Antonio is No. 24 in the NBA in scoring (112.6) and is facing an Atlanta defense that is No. 23 (117.5).
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
San Antonio is coming off two of the most painful losses of any team in the NBA this season, blowing massive leads in back-to-back games. The Spurs had multiple key players exit the last game with injuries, and they are the worst defensive team in the league. I have trouble envisioning them slowing down an Atlanta offense that is motivated and led by Young, who has been scoring at a high rate of late. The Hawks have covered the spread in six of the last eight meetings between these teams, and I expect the emotional turmoil of the last two games to catch up with the Spurs on Sunday.
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Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Atlanta not only scores at a high clip, but it also ranks inside the top 10 in tempo, which has led to four of its last six games going over the total. The Hawks are facing the worst defensive team in the NBA on Sunday afternoon, so they should continue their high-scoring success in this contest. San Antonio tends to go over the total due to its bad defense, cashing the over in six of its last seven games. These teams have also gone over in five of their last six head-to-head meetings, and the Spurs have gone over in five of their last six home games.
