Nets vs Hawks Picks and Predictions: BK Brings ATL Back Down to Earth

A crucial struggle for play-in seeding takes place Saturday night as the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets — who currently make up two thirds of a three-way tie for the East's 8 through 10 seeds — face off. 

Atlanta's looked impressive over the past couple of weeks — but how many of those wins have been empty calories? 

Find out if the home side is up for tonight's test against a motivated foe with our Nets vs. Hawks NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, April 2.

Nets vs Hawks odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

Brooklyn opened either -1 or -1.5 at most outlets, steadily rising to -2 or -2.5 as of Saturday morning. The total hit the books in the 240.5 to 242 range and sits mostly at 241.5.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Nets vs Hawks predictions

• Prediction: Brooklyn -2 (-110)
• Prediction: Over (241.5)
• Best bet: Huerter Over 2.5 threes (-104)

Predictions made on 4/2/2022 at 9:55 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Nets vs Hawks game info

• Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
• Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: YES, Bally Sports South East

Nets vs Hawks betting preview

Key injuries

Nets: Ben Simmons PG (Out), Joe Harris SF (Out), Bruce Brown SF (Questionable), Seth Curry SG (Questionable).
Hawks: John Collins PF (Out), Trae Young PG (Probable), Lou Williams SG (Probable).  
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Nets are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Hawks.

Nets vs Hawks picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

Yes, the Hawks appear to be peaking at the right time, winning seven of their last 10 despite the ongoing absence of their second-best player (John Collins). But that stretch has come against a particularly cupcake portion of their schedule, including games against the Thunder, Pacers, Pistons, Knicks, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, and injury-decimated Warriors and Cavaliers. Not exactly a murderer's row. 

This should set them up poorly for a matchup with a hungry Nets team that can still catch struggling Cleveland for the No. 7 seed and homecourt in a play-in showdown. Brooklyn needs every win right now, and let a painfully close one slip to Milwaukee on Thursday. You can count on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving coming out guns loaded. 

And they'll be met with little resistance. The Hawks have been an utter disaster on defense this season, ranked 26th overall. They're particularly weak on the perimeter, where Young is a constant liability, even when (frequently) hidden. Brooklyn can mirror the bulk of Young's minutes with a three-guard lineup that will put him in tough spots against capable scorers like Patty Mills, Goran Dragic, or (if he plays) Seth Curry. And should he ever have to switch onto Kyrie? Good night. 

Brooklyn's no gem on defense itself, but it matches up better with Atlanta on that end than the reciprocal. Young's pretty much instant offense between his scoring and playmaking, but he'll be playing through a groin pull that had him on the injury report this morning, so he may not be at 100%. Meanwhile, Brooklyn has multiple capable wing defenders who can impede efforts from the likes of Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter, and De'Andre Hunter. Young will have to do a lot in this game because Brooklyn's going to get its points.

Hunter profiles as the best cover for Durant, which, you know, have fun. And Brooklyn's bevy of backup backcourt scorers can pick the Hawks' porous perimeter apart if ATL tries to sell out on stopping KD and Irving.

Atlanta's been one of the best offenses in the league this year, but Brooklyn's ceiling on that end is ultimately higher, and the Hawks will struggle to contain two killers like Durant and Irving, who are out for revenge after the Milwaukee collapse. 

ATL is a good home team (25-14 SU this season), but the Nets are strong on the road, including going 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 away games.

The Hawks might not be ready for what's coming their way tonight. Bet accordingly. 

Prediction: Brooklyn -2 (-110 at bet365)

Over/Under analysis

Could books set a total high enough for this game? 

The Nets and Hawks are averaging a combined 240.1 points per game over their past 10, but these two squads should enable each other in a shootout unlike few teams in the NBA.

First, obviously, is the presence of Young, who leads the NBA in total assists and is No. 2 behind DeMar DeRozan in total points, juxtaposed against Irving and Durant, which is up there with the greatest offensive duos of all time. 

The next thing to consider is that both of these teams are objectively somewhere between bad and terrible on defense, with Atlanta 26th and Brooklyn 21st on the season.

And while the matchup, on paper, figures to profile at a neutral pace, both teams know they're going to have to win with their scoring, which should trend to more offense-heavy lineups and back-and-forth play.

Look for both teams to top the 120-mark here.

Prediction: Over 241.5 (-110 at 888sport)

Best bet

Kevin Huerter has basically been the Human Torch from 3-point land lately, draining 20 threes in his past four games, hitting them at an absolutely insane 60.6% clip.

Tonight, books are still peddling his 3-pointers made prop at 2.5 O/U, and we don't think it's juiced anywhere nearly enough, especially against Brooklyn's average-at-best defense. 

Brooklyn concedes threes at a Top-10 rate, and while they're above-average at defending them, this figures to be a fast-paced game in which Huerter will likely see a ton of reps, especially if the Nets' disorganized defense tries to collapse on Young.

With how white-hot he's been this week, Huerter would have to suffer a serious regression to not nail this prop, and given who he's playing tonight, we can't count on that happening. 

Pick: Kevin Huerter Over 2.5 threes made (-104)

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