Game Time: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 6th, 2022 

Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Spread:  Mavs -2.5

BetMGM:  Spread:  

VegasInsider:  Spread:  Mavs -2.5; O/U 222

WynnBet: Spread:  Mavs -2; O/U 222

Hawks: 25-27, 10th place Eastern Conference

Mavericks: 30-23, 5th place Western Conference

A non-conference battle between a sleeping Giant in the East and a waking Giant in the West.  There is quite a bit of separation between the conferences this season.  It is beginning to look like the top three teams in the West could win the East easily if they were transplanted there.  The Hawks are but a lowly team in that weaker conference.  The Hawks are sadly in 10th place.  It is not over for Atlanta however… they still have star PG Trae Young and his impressive stat lines… They have lots of previously injured players returning to the fold and resuming their high level of play, Deandre Hunter is the most important of those.  Also the trade deadline is almost on us.  Sources have whispered that the team is biting its nails over a major decision regarding PF John Collins.  John Collins is a very good power forward having a slightly off year… in 2020 he logged 21.6 ppg and 10.1 rpg… this season he is 16.9 and 7.9.  Speculation is that he is not a perfect fit with PG Trae Young… the trade deadline is days away… and the hawks know that Deandre Hunter can play power forward at a very high level if he stays healthy.  Trading John Collins along with one of the many shooters that aren’t so hot on defense could bring back a treasure trove of workable talent… or maybe John Collins, Kevin Huerter, and a draft pick or two could land Jaylen Brown?... Bradley Beal?... Domantas Sabonis?    The Mavericks are the sleeping Giant that has woken up a bit.  They still struggle with injuries to the main cast, like Kristaps Porziingis is again on the injury list with a right knee bone bruise… He has only played in 34 of the 53 games so far.  But they are waking because PG Luka Doncic keeps rising to the occasion and dropping eye-popping statlines 26.2 ppg, 9.1 apg, 8.9 rpg.  If he is going to play this way the Mavs can never be counted out. Even though Luka is surrounded by quality NBA role players and not much more when he is without Kristaps… Luka still gives enough to give the Mavs a chance in any game.  The Mavs could try something at the trade deadline, but it would have to feature Kristaps Porzingis which would be a tough deal for most teams to complete while giving the Mavs a player or players of equal salary and value.  The Mavs will most likely be forced to go forward with what they have and hope that Luka and Kristaps are healthy and ready to go when it counts… on the road in the playoffs.  Trae and Luka were traded for each other on draft day… The winner seems like the Mavs, but that hasn’t been written in stone.

The Atlanta Hawks have won 8 of their last 10 games.  That is why they are the sleeping giant.  They were all but counted out and now that Deandre Hunter has returned so has some defense.  The wins are starting to pour in.  Their two losses were both to the Toronto Raptors… a team that seems to have the Hawks number.   But Atlanta has beaten the Phoenix Suns, the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks… all recently.  This is a team that can bridge the gap from 10th place to 7th or 8th very quickly… and they certainly have what it takes to win the play-in tournament.  And if this season is like last season?... Atlanta in the playoffs can do damage… they just need Deandre Hunter to finally stay healthy.

The Dallas Mavericks have won 6 of their last 10 games.  They at times appear completely two-faced.  They have the best young point guard in the world in Luka Doncic (he is being crept up on by Ja Morant… but still holds the title).  They have a very talented 7’3 center in Kristaps Porzingis… and they are up to their armpits in moderately talented role players… it seems like they could beat anybody.  Then they all of a sudden look awful.  They lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Orlando Magic this week.  No one should lose to either of those teams let alone BOTH!!!  The Thunder and Magic are built to lose this season to get better draft positions as part of rebuilding projects… and they BOTH beat the Mavericks.  Over the last ten games the Mavs are only 4-6 ATS.  A Mavs fan will try to tell you that SF Dorian Finney-Smith is the 3rd option or C Dwight Powell is a key player… but in reality Luka leads the team in points, rebs, asts, and steals… they will go as far as 1 man can take them and after the first round that 1 player will have to be Hercules.

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The Atlanta Hawks are 25-27 on the season, but 23-29 ATS.  They have logged 28 Overs and 24 Unders.  They are 10-15 in road games.

The Dallas Mavericks are 30-23 on the season, but 27-26 ATS.  They have notched 18 Overs, 34 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 17-10 in home games.

The Hawks are 6th in scoring with 111.8 ppg, 20th in rebounds with 44.3 per game, and 4th in AST/TO with 2.0.  They are shooting 6th in FG%, 1st in 3PT%, and 6th in FT%.  The downfall is on the defensive end where they rank 24th while allowing 111.6 ppg from opponents.

Our prediction for Sunday, February 6th is….  Hawks 118 - Mavs 107

The Hawks will win this one.  What you have to be on the lookout for this week when making any bet on the NBA is at any moment a team you bet on could pull out players as they try to finish a trade.  

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27-49 games in this series have gone UNDER since 1996.

3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER the last 3 seasons.

14 of 24 games in this series played at Dallas have gone Under the last 3 seasons.

Hawks: PF Danillo Gallinari (hamstring) Quest 

Mavs: PF Kristaps Porzingis (knee) Out ** SG Sterling Brown (foot) Out ** PF Maxi Kleber (knee) Quest ** SG Tim Hardaway (foot) Out

Hawks: SF De’Andre Hunter, PF John Collins, C Clint Capela, SG Kevin Huerter, PG Trae Young

Mavericks: SF Reggie Bullock, PF Dorian Finney-Smith, C Dwight Powell, SG Jalen Brunson, PG Luka Doncic

Hawks

Points: Trae Young 27.9

Assists: Trae Young 9.3

Rebounds: Clint Capela 12.2

Steals: Malcolm Hill 1.3

Blocks: Onyeka Okongwu

Mavericks

Points: Luka Doncic 26.2

Assists: Luka Doncic 9.1

Rebounds: Luka Doncic 8.9

Steals: Luka Doncic 1.2

Blocks: Kristaps Porzingis 1.7

Hawks: Nate McMillan

Mavs: Jason Kidd