The Los Angeles Clippers have now dropped two straight games, but after doing battle with two capable opponents will greet the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, looking to snap a two-game slide of their own.
With the return of Kawhi Leonard a possibility, my Hawks vs. Clippers predictions will highlight why the Clippers – performing considerably better defensively, should be able to come out the victors in a battle between two good offenses.
Let’s dig into some NBA player props and hand out some NBA picks on Saturday, January 4.
Hawks vs Clippers prediction
My best bet
Clippers -6 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
It’s not as if either side is in a dire position, considering the Atlanta Hawks have run into two trendy Western Conference opponents in recent games, and the Los Angeles Clippers , while facing the same level of competition, have had their fair share of injuries to deal with.
That should change on Saturday, however, with James Harden ready to return and the possibility of Leonard joining the floor with him. The plan is to have Leonard out there, and even in a limited capacity, that could further swing the game in LA’s favor as it looks to pick the bones of Atlanta on the second night of a back-to-back.
While the Clippers’ offense has fallen flat on its face over the last two games, they continue to play solid defense. This is a top-five unit for the season, which has still ranked 12th over the last two weeks despite hitting a rough patch, and in that time, it’s just been the mid-range that’s really been a source of hardship.
Well, Leonard will help shore that up on the wing, even if it’s in just 20 minutes, and so too will the Hawks. Atlanta is just 19th in mid-range shooting this season, according to Cleaning the Glass, and has taken shots there at one of the very lowest clips in the NBA.
The 3-point arc has been where it’s turned for production, and while fortunes have changed lately, it’s not as if there’s much hope in this one.
The Clippers own a top-five 3-point defense for the season, remaining there over the last 14 days, and they’re also going to be sitting pretty offensively, considering the Hawks have been one of the worst teams in the NBA at defending beyond the rim, struggling against both the 3 and the mid-range jumper.
We know that this is where L.A. has focused its efforts on that end, and I only expect that fixation to increase with the return of Leonard. As he helps this team get buckets on pull-up jumpers and fortifies an already-rosy matchup, I expect the Clippers to cover with ease here against a tired Hawks team.
Hawks vs Clippers same-game parlay
Clippers -6
Kawhi Leonard Over 3.5 Rebounds
Onyeka Okongwu 1+ Threes Made
It may be a fool’s errand to play any Leonard props here, particularly without the guarantee of an appearance, but I do see a great deal of value in looking at the rebounding battle in this one.
The Hawks and Clippers have been quite evenly matched on the glass this season, but as the Clippers have maintained an above-average rate in the last two weeks, the Hawks have dropped down near the bottom five of the league.
Opposing small forwards have been grabbing rebounds against Atlanta at a top-five rate, too, so I think even in a limited capacity, this should be an easy number for Leonard to hit.
Then, I’ll take a swing and go with Onyeka Okongwu to knock down a triple. He sits in the top 33% of all bigs in corner 3 frequency, and this is the lone area of the floor where things have been objectively problematic for the Clippers with a 21st-place ranking – which has fallen to 28th in the last two weeks.
Okongwu has tried at least one shot from outside in four straight games, knocking down three of seven, and he should find space to try again here.
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Hawks vs Clippers odds
Hawks vs Clippers live odds
Hawks vs Clippers opening odds
- Spread: Atlanta -4 (-110) | Los Angeles -4 (-110)
- Moneyline: Atlanta XX | Los Angeles XX
- Over/Under: Over 230 (-110) | Under 230 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Hawks vs Clippers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The line steadily drifted down to six points and, after a little resistance, dropped further to 7.5 before recovering Saturday afternoon to get back to 6.
- The Clippers make up just 36% of the tickets, but 59% of the money wagered on the spread.
- The total dipped as low as 227 on Saturday morning before shooting back up to 228.5, but it is still a ways away from the opener.
- The Over has accounted for 66% of the bets and 72% of the handle on the total.
Hawks vs Clippers trend
The LA Clippers have hit the 2Q Game Total Under in 28 of their last 41 games (+13.20 Units / 28% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Clippers.
How to watch Hawks vs Clippers
| Location: | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California |
| Date: | Saturday, 1-4-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FDSN SE, FDSN SC, SN |
Hawks vs Clippers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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