Clippers vs Hawks Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Plumlee Gets Teammates Rolling

The Los Angeles Clippers will travel to State Farm Arena to take on the Atlanta Hawks, and I've searched through the latest NBA odds to find you the best bet for this matchup.

With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, could this be one of the last times we see this version of this Hawks roster? Trade rumors have been swirling around Dejounte Murray for weeks, among other players.

As much as I'd love to make this article about Murray, my focus is on Los Angeles who is on the back end of a back-to-back, and you will never believe who I'm betting on in my free NBA picks for the Clippers vs. Hawks on February 5.

Clippers vs Hawks odds

Clippers vs Hawks predictions

The Los Angeles Clippers are on the end of a back-to-back, and while the Clippers typically participate in load management, the injury report looks pretty clean tonight. Even Paul George — who has been held to a minutes restriction of late — has escaped being put on the injury report against the Atlanta Hawks.

While L.A.'s roster looks healthy at first glance, Ivica Zubac is working his way back from injury and only played 18 minutes against the Heat last night. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Zubac is out for injury management on the end of a B2B and Mason Plumlee is inserted into the starting lineup. That leads me to my best bet.

Plumlee may be the backup center for the Clippers, but based on how he was used on Sunday with Zubac back, I think 20+ minutes is pretty secure for the backup big whether he comes off the bench or starts. I'm pricing this as if he is the backup, but there's a strong possibility we catch a boost to this wager if he's slotted into the starting five.

Plumlee will be primarily used as a screener in the pick-and-roll for James Harden, and while it won't be often, if Harden feeds Plumlee on the roll with a pass he should then be able to find a cutter or shooter against this horrific Hawks defense.

The potential assists won't be high for Plumlee, but when you play with teammates such as Kawhi Leonard, George, Norman Powell, Harden, and Russell Westbrook, those potential assists can be converted at a high rate.

Plumlee is projected to have 2.1 assists on Monday against Atlanta — allowing us to price the Over 1.5 assists at -150 — but it's trading at -120 at bet365. Based on this projection, this bet is showing a positive expected value of 10%.

My best bet: Mason Plumlee Over 1.5 assists (-120 at bet365)

Clippers vs Hawks same-game parlay

Jalen Johnson Over 3.5 assists

Onyeka Okongwu Over 12.5 points

Okongwu Over 0.5 made threes

+500 at bet365

When I went to build my SGP for this game, my best bet of Plumlee Over 1.5 assists was taken off the board, so it appears there could be Clippers injury news on the horizon. Just in case it doesn't return, I'm going to build this SGP around my other best bet, which was a runner-up to Plumlee — Jalen Johnson Over 3.5 assists.

Johnson is the prototypical power wing, as he combines size and speed and has added a 3-point jump shot to his game this season. We should see the Hawks try and run some actions that generate a switch of Harden onto Johnson on the wing. This isn't a matchup that Harden will be able to handle by himself, which will cause the defense to help, and Johnson is excellent at finding his lob threats against help defense.

I'm pairing Johnson in this SGP with Onyeka Okongwu, who played 36 minutes on Saturday. While Okongwu doesn't attempt many 3-pointers, he can knock them down. Example being him going 2-for-4 from beyond the arc against Golden State over the weekend.

If Okongwu is going to go Over the total of 12.5 points, I think you'll need at least one 3-pointer from the Hawks' big, and I'm hoping it comes on a Johnson pass.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Clippers vs Hawks spread and Over/Under analysis

The Clippers opened as 3.5-point favorites at FanDuel, and while this line did dip down to -2.5, the news George isn't even on the injury report helped drive this line back up to -4. 

We still don't have the full injury report for either team, so while George is playing it doesn't mean L.A. will have a full roster. Buyer beware with this spread and the Clippers.

The total opened at 243.5 at DraftKings, and after initially dipping down to 242, it is back to the opening number of 243.5. Make sure to shop around for this number before hitting the button because it is available at 244 at some other sportsbooks.

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Clippers vs Hawks betting trend to know

The Clippers have hit the moneyline in 25 of their last 30 games (+20.00 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Hawks.

Clippers vs Hawks game info

Clippers vs Hawks latest injuries

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