Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/13/2023

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Where to watch: BSIN, BSSE-ATL

DraftKings: Hawks -3; Hawks -150, Pacers +130

FanDuel: Hawks -3; Hawks -148, Pacers +126; O/U 228.5

BetMGM: Hawks -2.5; Hawks -150, Pacers +125

Caesars: Hawks -3; Hawks -154, Pacers +130

Hawks: 19-22

Pacers: 23-19

Hawks: lost 114-105 vs. Bucks

Pacers: lost 119-113 at Knicks

Things have been spiraling downwards for the Atlanta Hawks over the last 10 games. And it's kind of funny though we're looking at this game against the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta is somehow the underdog in this one period I would call that very funny.

Atlanta has gone 3-7 in its last 10 games and are coming off a 114-105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. It did not help that Trae Young was not in the lineup due to a non COVID illness and when your star player is not in the lineup, the trickle effect is very noticeable. Bogdan Bogdanovic Scored a team high 22 points and lead five different players in double figures, but the Hawks shot just 45% from the floor and 37% from 3 point range. That was eleven makes out of 30 attempts, which by Atlanta standards is not very good.

The Hawks have been just as abysmal against the spread as they have been on the floor. In addition to going 3-7 in the last ten straight up, the Hawks have gone 3-7 against the spread in their last ten and have failed to cover in for their last six. One of those disappointing covers was back on January 6th when they were three-point favorites against the Los Angeles Lakers and lost by 16 points.

I'm not sure exactly what's going on with Atlanta but at least we now know why coach Nate McMillan really wants to resign. Even though that report came out and was labeled as false, are we even going to be really surprised if this team somehow falters out of the playoffs with their superstar players still carrying the load? This team was supposed to be very good with Dejounte Murray and John Collins forming a big three. Now they have barely any perimeter defense and their shots are not falling. That's a horrendous sign.

What's not a horrendous sign is the Pacers winning a bunch of games this year. Indiana has stormed its way to a 23-19 record and is currently on pace to be a top six team in the playoffs. I'm not really sure how this team is able to do it, but they have won six of the last eight and looked like a dangerous team doing it. And it all centers around what Tyrese Halliburton has been able to do as the point guard of this team. When you look at what the Pacers were able to accomplish last year, it wasn't a lot.

The addition of Halliburton has skyrocketed this rebuild process under Rick Carlisle and this team is playing some really inspired basketball because of it. Indiana has also covered in six of its last eight but has failed to cover the last two despite being 5.5 point favorites against Charlotte in a five point victory on January 8th, and failing to cover by one as five point underdogs against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Indiana is playing some really inspired basketball right now and I have no doubt that they can defeat a banged up Atlanta team. With young likely out of the line up in this game, the point guard situation is absolutely flipped in favour of the Pacers and I think that is what will lead them to victory. Pacers 112, Hawks 100

Hawks are 46-66 ATS in road games the last 3 seasons.

Hawks are 4-15 ATS after playing a home game this season.

Pacers are 8-2 ATS on Friday games this season.

Pacers are 7-4 ATS this season off a road loss.

PG: Trae Young

SG: Dejounte Murray

SF: De’Andre Hunter

PF: John Collins

C: Onyeka Okongwu

PG: TJ McConnell

SG: Andrew Nembhard

SF: Buddy Hield

PF: Aaron Nesmith

C: Myles Turner

Hawks: Clint Capela (calf, out)

Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (elbow and knee, out)