Atlanta at Washington Spread, Free Pick & TV Info

Posted by Michael Hunt on Tuesday,March 21, 2017 10:33, EDT in

NBA News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

It’s another possible first-round playoff preview in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday night as the Atlanta Hawks visit the Washington Wizards. The Hawks will be heading to the nation’s capital rather short-handed and will be a underdogs in NBA spreads.

Atlanta at Washington Spread, Free Pick & TV Info

When: Wednesday, March 22, 8 PM ET
Where: Verizon Center, Washington DC
TV: ESPN
Stream: NBA.tv
Radio: Atlanta / Washington
NBA Odds: Wizards favored by TBA

Why Bet on Hawks?

Atlanta will be without two starters here in swingman Kent Bazemore and their best player, four-time All-Star forward Paul Millsap. Millsap, who missed a second straight game Monday with tightness in his left knee, is averaging 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He’ll be a free agent this summer, but the Hawks think they can re-sign him. Millsap is one of four players in the NBA averaging at least 17.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg and 1.0 bpg along with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, New Orleans’ DeMarcus Cousins and Golden State’s Kevin Durant.

While Millsap might be back this weekend, Bazemore is out all week at least. He has a bone bruise on his right knee and will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days. Bazemore is averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game this season and is a good defender. With those two out, Ersan Ilyasova will be starting for Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. for Bazemore.

Hardaway Jr. has hit at least one 3FG in a career-high 22 straight games. His streak is the longest for a Hawk since Kyle Korver (51 games) from 11/26/14-3/13/15. Additionally, he has made at least one triple in 23 consecutive road games, tied for the third-longest streak in franchise history (Mookie Blaylock in 1996-97 and Korver in 2014-15). Mike Bibby is second with 33 in 2010-11.

Dwight Howard is guaranteed to average a point/rebound double-double this this year, becoming one- of-six players in league history to do so in each of his first 13 NBA seasons – Wilt Chamberlain (14 years), Tim Duncan, Moses Malone (14), Shaquille O’Neal and Bill Russell

Why Bet on Wizards?

Washington has a 38-22 record with the John Wall – Bradley Beal – Otto Porter Jr. – Markieff Morris – Marcin Gortat starting lineup. Washington secured its 21st season with a winning record (above .500) vs. Chicago (3/17, W, 112-107). The Wizards have an NBA best 25 games in which all five starters have scored 10+ points (Detroit has 16, Denver with 15).

Wall is the only player to average at least 20.0 pts, 10.0 rebs, 4.0 asts and 2.0 stls. He is one of three players (James Harden, Russell Westbrook) to average a point-assist double-double. Porter Jr. has 21 games with three 3-pointers made — the eighth-most among Eastern forwards. Gortat recorded 700 rebounds for the fourth straight season, one of four to do so (A. Drummond, D. Jordan, D. Cousins). Bojan Bogdanovic has scored 15+ points off the bench in seven of 14 games with Washington. The Wizards are 5-2 in those games.

Washington is 36-15 (.709) over the last 51 games, including an 26-9 (.743) record in the last 35 and 6-4 (.600) over the last 10. The 36 wins since Dec. 5 is third most in the NBA (Golden State has 38, San Antonio with 37). During that time the Wizards have shot .482 from the field (second in NBA) and averaged 111.0 points per contest (fourth in NBA).

Washington leads Atlanta 2-1 this season. They last played on Jan. 27 and the Wizards won 112-86 on the road. Porter Jr. had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Wall scored 19. Bazemore scored 15 and Howard had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks. Atlanta’s momentum fizzled not long after the opening tip. The Hawks never led. All five Washington starters scored in double figures. Gortat, Beal and Morris each had 15 points.