The New Orleans Pelicans will try to break an eight-game losing streak tonight as they visit the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Atlanta is on a three-game winning streak of its own and should cover a large spread tonight, as I’ll explain in my Pelicans vs. Hawks predictions.
Read on below to see why I like the Hawks in my free NBA picks for Monday, December 2.
Pelicans vs Hawks prediction
My best bet
Hawks -10 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans are in for a tough time on Monday in Atlanta. Not only has New Orleans lost eight in a row, but it is now on the second game of a road back-to-back, having lost to the New York Knicks 118-85 last night. The Pelicans now get to face off against an Atlanta Hawks team that has won three straight, including twice against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
To be fair to New Orleans, few rosters would be able to withstand the injury problems it has been dealing with. Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Dejounte Murray have all missed significant time this year, and Brandon Ingram has sat out the last four games with soreness in his right calf. Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins, and Herbert Jones are also all expected to miss tonight’s game, so while Murray and McCollum will most likely be in the lineup, the Pelicans are still shorthanded.
While Atlanta may be just 10-11, they have been looking like a much better team as of late. Trey Young and Jalen Johnson are each averaging over 20 ppg, and seem to have the kind of chemistry that Young had yet to find with a co-star in his NBA career. The Hawks have also benefitted from the return of Bogdan Bogdanovic (11.6 ppg), who missed 13 games with a hamstring injury.
Those scoring options are going to cause trouble for a Pelicans team that has been much worse on defense than their raw numbers might suggest. New Orleans is allowing 115.7 ppg to opponents, a number that is already below average, ranking 22nd in the NBA. However, that scoring has come despite the fact that the Pelicans play at one of the slowest paces in the league.
On a possession basis, New Orleans is among the worst defensive teams in the league. They allow opponents to shoot 48.4% from the field, as well as 37.8% from three-point range. That’s going to be a serious issue against a Hawks team that allows almost every significant player to shoot from behind the arc. They’re not all great from three, with only De’Andre Hunter shooting above 40% from deep, but they should get plenty of open looks against the Pelicans.
There’s just too much talent on the Hawks' side for an ailing, tired Pelicans team to keep up with them on the road tonight. I’m taking Atlanta to cover.
Pelicans vs Hawks same-game parlay
Hawks -9.5
Under 230.5
Jalen Johnson Over 19.5 points
I like the Hawks to win by a wide margin tonight, which gives me a chance to make a same-game parlay using some uncorrelated picks for added value. I’ll take Atlanta on the spread again, and combine that with the Under. The Pelicans typically play a slow-paced, low-scoring brand of basketball, and Atlanta has also been well below tonight’s total in its last two games.
Trae Young isn’t at 100% tonight, as he’s playing with Achilles tendinitis. That’s not only another reason to take the Under, but also has me interested in Jalen Johnson’s scoring prop. Johnson has scored 20+ points in each of his last five games and should get a boost in his offensive production with Young not quite at his best tonight.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Pelicans vs Hawks odds
Pelicans vs Hawks live odds
Pelicans vs Hawks opening odds
- Spread: New Orleans +9.5 | Atlanta -9.5
- Moneyline: New Orleans +368 | Atlanta -469
- Over/Under: Over 228 | Under 228
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Pelicans vs Hawks spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Hawks are 8-13 against the spread this year, while the Pelicans have been even worse for bettors, going 7-14 ATS.
- Atlanta covered in the only other meeting between these teams this year, a 126-111 win in New Orleans.
- The Over holds a 14-7 edge in Atlanta’s games this season, with the Under having a 12-8-1 edge in New Orleans’ contests.
- The Pelicans are playing to an average total of 218.6 ppg. The Hawks are averaging a total of 235.5 ppg.
Pelicans vs Hawks trend
The Pelicans have lost each of their last three games by 11+ points. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Hawks.
How to watch Pelicans vs Hawks
| Location: | State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA |
| Date: | Monday, 12-2-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, FDSN - Southeast - Atlanta |
Pelicans vs Hawks latest injuries
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