These are tense times for the Phoenix Suns, from Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause to a reshuffled starting five, and they’ll be under the microscope again tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.
Alarm bells are going off in Phoenix but Atlanta is bobbing around .500 as usual, and my Hawks vs Suns predictions point to more wizardry from Trae Young, fresh off a buzzer-beater against the Utah Jazz this week.
Read on for all my NBA picks for this Thursday, January 9 matchup as the hosts try to quiet the panic at Footprint Center.
Hawks vs Suns prediction
My best bet
Trae Young Over 37.5 points + assists (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Atlanta Hawks tried to shake things up in the backcourt with the Dejounte Murray experiment, but now we’re back to Trae Young as the undisputed head of the snake, especially with Jalen Johnson sidelined.
Though this hasn’t always been a winning recipe in Atlanta, Young was the miracle-shot hero against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, as part of a 24-point, 20-assist night, and he’s got an easy path to another high-usage outing tonight.
With the Phoenix Suns looking vulnerable, I like the Over on Trae’s points + assists combo prop. He’s cleared this 37.5 O/U number in four of his last five contests while shouldering most of the offensive burden.
It’s a big total, but Young has taken 44 free throws on this five-game road trip and made 21 threes in that span. He can give Phoenix fits on the perimeter, even with Ryan Dunn now starting for the hosts, and he should have success targeting Mason Plumlee and Jusuf Nurkic on switches.
Trae’s playmaking magic has been consistent so that part of the prop feels steadiest. He’s posted 10 or more dimes in 10 of his last 13 games, and don’t be surprised if there are communication breakdowns to exploit with Phoenix rejigging its rotation on the fly.
All the pressure is on the Suns and Young thrives as a villain on the road. He'll be responsible for most of the Atlanta offense and I’m counting on a monster effort.
Hawks vs Suns same-game parlay
Trae Young Over 37.5 points + assists
Dyson Daniels Over 1.5 steals
Suns 1H moneyline
Dyson Daniels has emerged as one of the NBA’s premier pickpockets and has piled up steals on this road trip, with at least two swipes in each of his past four games. He even recorded an eight-steal masterpiece against the Minnesota Timberwolves last month.
Daniels is well-placed to capitalize if the Suns get careless with the ball. Phoenix has had at least 11 turnovers in six straight contests, and Devin Booker can expect to see a Daniels-shaped shadow for big minutes tonight.
Despite the rumbling behind the scenes and clunky play on the court, I expect a response from Phoenix tonight. I’m taking the Suns 1H moneyline for my SGP, largely based on the firepower of the Booker and Kevin Durant duo.
Though Bogdan Bogdanovic is likely to play, Atlanta is still shorthanded without Johnson and lost three in a row before scraping past Utah while giving up 121 points.
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Hawks vs Suns odds
Hawks vs Suns live odds
Hawks vs Suns opening odds
- Spread: Atlanta +3 (-110) | Phoenix -3 (-110)
- Moneyline: Atlanta +125 | Phoenix -150
- Over/Under: Over 238 (-110) | Under 238 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Hawks vs Suns spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Hawks have won four of the past five meetings between these teams but with both head coaches still searching for the right combinations, I’m wary of the spread.
- The Suns are 2-8 in their last 10, but they’re 10-8 at home and we could see some fatigue from the visitors, who are on the sixth game of this road trip.
- The Under is 27-12 in Phoenix’s last 39 games at Footprint Center, and the hosts have fallen short of the 110-point mark in three straight — that puts a 238.5 total in jeopardy.
- That said, the Over is 38-15 in the Hawks’ last 53 games — and 7-2-1 in their past 10.
Hawks vs Suns trend
Despite all their offensive options, the Under is 8-1-1 in the Suns’ last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Suns.
How to watch Hawks vs Suns
| Location: | Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ |
| Date: | Thursday, 1-9-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FanDuel Sports Network - Southeast - Atlanta, Arizona's Family 3TV |
Hawks vs Suns latest injuries
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