After nine days without a game, the Atlanta Hawks are back in action tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In case you missed it, Hawks head coach Nate McMillan was fired, and Trae Young dropped a subtle hint about his favorite coach.
Coaching drama aside, Atlanta needs a win at home tonight. With more than 70% of the season in the rearview mirror, Atlanta’s record is below 29–30 and eighth in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, Cleveland is 38-24 and sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference this season thanks to a successful experiment pairing Donovan Mitchell with Darius Garland.
Much has been said about Mitchell’s stellar individual performance this season, but Cleveland is clicking as a team. He has the best defensive rating and second-best net rating in the NBA. In layman’s terms, he is a legitimate championship contender.
While Cleveland prepares for a deep playoff run, Atlanta is just trying to squeak by in the postseason. A win at home tonight would do a lot to calm the nerves of eager Hawks fans.
Injury report
Cleveland has no injuries to report at this time. Atlanta’s injury report lists John Collins (concussion protocol) as out.
Odds
Spread: Atlanta Hawks (-1.5)
Over/Under Point Total: 225.5
Money Line: Atlanta Hawks (-118) Cleveland Cavaliers (+100)
*Odds provided by SI Sportsbook
Television, Streaming, and Radio
Location: State Farm Arena
Time: 7:30 pm. EST
Radio: 92.9 FM The Game
Network: Bally Sports
Live Stream: Click Here For FuboTV Free Trial!
Uniform
The Atlanta Hawks will wear their Statement Edition uniform w(black). The Cleveland Cavaliers will wear their Association Edition uniform (white).