Will the Hawks upset another top team?
The forward returned to the court after a very long injury layoff, and with him back in the lineup, the Eastern Conference’s second-place team’s title prospects have clearly improved once again. This is evident in the fact that the Celtics have won seven of nine games since his return.
While Tatum will still need time to regain his former form after his long absence, even a “half” Tatum is a real boost for the hosts thanks to his exceptional talent.
The visitors are also in strong form, however: They recently defeated the Eastern Conference leaders from Detroit, and as the fifth-place team in the East, the Hawks are equally on track for the playoffs. Given this situation, a prediction of an away win in the game between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks—including a +6.5-point handicap for the visitors—appears promising.
In addition, we expect a double-double from Jalen Johnson on the Hawks’ side. The 24-year-old is currently performing reliably in both rebounding and scoring, recording double-digit totals in both categories in four of the past five games.
His strong season so far is also evident in the fact that he ranks among the top 10 in the NBA in both assists and rebounds.
Boston Celtics – Atlanta Hawks Head-to-Head Comparison / H2H Record
The teams have faced each other twice this year, and in each instance, the visiting team came out on top. When it comes to the Celtics’ home games against the 1958 champions, a home loss is nothing new: the Georgia-based team has won all three of their away games in Boston!
Nevertheless, the odds for the upcoming game between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks point toward a home win.
Boston Celtics – Atlanta Hawks Prediction
The visiting team from State Farm Arena recorded an away win in Detroit in their last game, defeating the Eastern Conference leaders. This victory demonstrates that the Hawks can hold their own against the NBA’s top teams on the road.
Now they face the second-place team in the East—another top-tier squad. Their latest triumph in Motown also fits seamlessly into the picture of a Georgia-based team that is currently strong on the road. Looking back at their last five road games, the four-time conference champions have only been defeated in Houston.
The visitors’ offense, in particular, is currently performing very reliably, scoring at least 122 points in six of their last seven games. We therefore expect a close game at TD Garden and, in the matchup between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks, are selecting the betting odds on the visitors not losing by seven or more points.
