Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/28/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET 

Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Where to watch: BSSE-ATL, YES

DraftKings: Nets -5; Nets -205, Hawks +175; O/U 238.5

FanDuel: Nets -5.5; Nets -230, Hawks +190; O/U 238

BetMGM: Nets -5.5; Nets -210, Hawks +170; O/U 238.5

Caesars: Nets -5; Nets -208, Hawks +175; O/U 238.5

Nets: 22-12

Hawks: 17-17

Reports of the Brooklyn Nets demise seem to have been greatly exaggerated. Because what Brooklyn is doing right now since Kyrie Irving has returned, has been the utmost incredible and yet the most gratifyingly annoying thing that we could have ever imagined. And now with a wounded Atlanta team next on their radar, it is very much a possibility that Brooklyn could be going to a 10 game-winning streak by the time that Wednesday concludes. Brooklyn has gone 6-3 against the spread in its last nine games during this winning streak but the six have come within the last seven so Brooklyn is not only winning at an efficient rate, they are doing so as heavy favorites on the books and have covered by double digits in four of those games. And it's not like Brooklyn is beating lackadaisical opponents here a win in Cleveland in this climate is very good. A win over Milwaukee, by double digits, is very good. Winning in Toronto, winning against a gritty Indiana team, winning against Atlanta earlier in the month, these are the kinds of winds that can show you that Brooklyn is indeed for real. And even if you look at the way this team dominated against Cleveland in terms of star power, Kevin Durant had 32 points on 10 of 18 shooting. Kyrie Irving had 32 points on 11 and 19 shooting along with five assists. TJ Warren off the bench giving them 23 points and 27 minutes, Ben Simmons providing passing rebounding, defense, this is exactly what Brooklyn was hoping for when it fired Steve Nash and tried to get everything under control period now with Kyrie back in the fold and him seemingly on his better behavior now, Brooklyn is playing like the elite team that I think everyone anticipated them being this year and it has been probably the best thing that could have happened to Brooklyn at this current point in time.

If you are a believer in the Atlanta Hawks, I would highly recommend that you find something new to believe in. Because things are going downhill very quickly, and very fast. Atlanta has dropped two of three, but that is not the biggest thing. The biggest thing here is that Trae Young has suffered a calf contusion and could miss some time. I would be shocked beyond belief if young played against Brooklyn, but Atlanta is going to need everyone and then some in order to even think about pulling off this upset, which Atlanta is now six point underdogs going into this game at most books. Young is, at worst, questionable going into this game. Clint capela is questionable in this game. So now, once again, Elena is having to do this without its full big three intact and that showed on Tuesday in the 129-114 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Young only had 22 points on five of 15 shooting to go along with ten assists before he left the game period Dejounte Murray had just 14 points on 12 shot attempts. this is not production that is going to win Atlanta games. John Collins on the other hand going for 26 points and 10 rebounds is absolutely what Atlanta needs. But the only way that they are going to be effective in that manner is by getting Collins, Murray, and Young all together on the floor. if they can't do that, Atlanta is not going to find any source of consistency and it is going to be a very rough time for the people in The Dirty South.

 

With Atlanta being on a back-to-back this is going to be a very tough task for them against the hottest team in the NBA. Brooklyn, fully healthy, can easily wipe the floor with Atlanta by more than six points. They have been good outright, and they have been very good against the spread. With questions surrounding Atlanta, I have no doubt Brooklyn will be able to win this one too. Nets 124, Hawks 105

Nets are 55-32 ATS on the road when playing 4 games or less in 10 days since 1996.

Nets are 87-47 ATS on the road when playing their second game in 5 days since 1996.

Hawks are 1-9 ATS when revenging a road loss against an opponent this seasons.

Hawks are 2-11 ATS at home in December the last 2 seasons.

PG: Kyrie Irving

SG: Royce O’Neale

SF: Kevin Durant

PF: Ben Simmons

C: Nic Claxton

PG: Aaron Holiday

SG: Dejounte Murray

SF: De’Andre Hunter

PF: John Collins

C: Onyeka Okongwu

Nets: Seth Curry (illness, probable), Joe Harris (knee, out)

Hawks: Trae Young (calf, day-to-day), Clint Capela (calf, out)