The Atlanta Hawks travel across the country to take on the surprising Phoenix Suns in a non-conference matchup as the 2019-20 NBA season continues on Thursday.
The Atlanta Hawks travel across the country to take on the surprising Phoenix Suns in a non-conference matchup as the 2019-20 NBA season continues on Thursday.
Tipoff at 7pm MT (9pm ET)
Atlanta Hawks
Moneyline odds: +250 at Bovada
Betting line: +7 at -111.11
Record (ATS): 4-6 (5-5)
Phoenix Suns
Moneyline odds: -330 at Bovada
Betting line: -7 at -111.11
Record (ATS): 6-4 (8-2)
The Atlanta Hawks travel across the country to take on the surprising Phoenix Suns in a non-conference matchup as the 2019-20 NBA season continues on Thursday.
While the Suns have lost two of their last three games, they are still one of the more refreshing teams in the league at 6-4. Last season they were tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second-worst record in the NBA. What is even more surprising about the Suns’ hot start is they are without last season’s top pick Deandre Ayton, who was suspended for 25 games for a failed drug test.
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The Hawks snapped their three-game losing streak in their last game, beating the Denver Nuggets 125-121. Second-year guard Trae Young is turning into a star and ranks seventh in the NBA with 28 points per game.
This is the first game between these teams this season. The Hawks won both matchups in the previous campaign.
Phoenix are the sixth-highest scoring team in the league and while they rank in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed, they have given up at least 123 points in their two recent losses.
Young went for a season-high 42 points in Atlanta’s win over Denver, with the Hawks shooting 53% from the floor while holding the Nuggets to a FG% of 44.2%. Young was 13/21 from the floor and hit eight of his 13 three-pointers, Jabari Parker had 20 points, and three other players scored in double figures.
Parker has been a solid addition to the Hawks, averaging 17.8 ppg and leading the team averaging six rpg. Besides Young and Parker, the suspended John Collins (17 ppg) is the only other player averaging in double figures.
The Hawks only rank 23rd in the league in ppg and will have to play solid defense with Collins out. Alex Lin, who went for 17 points in the win over the Nuggets, is listed as questionable for this game with an ankle injury.
The Suns lost to the LA Lakers 123-115 in their last game where they had a decent shooting night but allowed the Lakers to hit 53.7% from the floor and score 70 points in the paint. Devin Booker and Ricky Rubio both had 21 points, while the latter also had 10 assists.
Booker leads the Suns with 25.3 ppg and Rubio has been a great fit so far in his first season in Phoenix, averaging 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. The Suns have great balance with five players (six if you count the suspended Ayton) who are averaging in double figures.
The Hawks’ win over the Nuggets took their record on the road to 2-2 for the season. The Suns are 4-3 at home.
Phoenix Suns -7 at -111.11 with Bovada
The Hawks are coming off a solid win in Denver, but they will not be able to deal with all of the scoring the Suns have. While the Phoenix defense may struggle at times, the offense will get it done. The Suns will win at home and cover the spread, sending the Hawks to their fourth loss in five games.