Hawks vs. Mavericks: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Hawks vs. Mavericks Odds
| Hawks Odds | +2.5 |
| Mavericks Odds | -2.5 |
| Over/Under | 233.5 |
| Date | Wed, Jan. 18 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. |
| TV | ESPN |
On Wednesday, ESPN’s NBA double-header will begin with a matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. EST. Entering play, Atlanta (22-22) owns the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference. Dallas (24-21) has the fifth-best record in a crowded Western Conference, with only three games separating the Mavericks from the 11-seed. In this matchup, oddsmakers are expecting a closely-contested affair, pricing Luka Doncic and the Mavericks as 2.5-point home favorites on the spread.
Atlanta Hawks
Capela back in the lineup
On Monday, Clint Capela returned to the floor for the first time since December 23, helping Atlanta to defeat the Miami Heat 121-113 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On the season, the Hawks are 16-12 with Capela in the lineup, but only 6-10 when he is in street clothes.
Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta ranks in the 48th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 64th percentile in defensive efficiency this season with Capela on the floor, compared to the 29th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 50th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines.
Struggles away from home
The primary concern for bettors evaluating the Hawks tonight is their inability to play well, consistently, away from home. Since the beginning of the 2020-2021 season, the Hawks are 42-58 on the road.
This season Atlanta is 10-13 outside of their home building, but they have notable wins against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and New York Knicks included in their record. This is a team with enough talent to beat anyone in the league on any given night, but consistency has been an issue for this organization across the last few years.
Dallas Mavericks
Doncic feeling the burn
Last Thursday, Luka Doncic scored 35 points, collected 14 rebounds, and dished-out 13 assists in a heroic 119-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers – a game in which he played 53 minutes. Two days later, Doncic scored a season-low 15 points on an inefficient 7 for 19 shooting from the floor in a 17-point Dallas loss. The next day, Doncic was rested on the second-half of a back-to-back set against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Earlier today, an ESPN report commented that Doncic “has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade before the February 9 trade deadline.” Though Doncic has not complained publicly about his workload or immense offensive responsibilities, the puzzle pieces suggest that Doncic is both physically and mentally drained at this point in the campaign.
Texas tough at home
Playing in their home arena this season, Dallas is 16-6. Other than a 29-point loss to the Boston Celtics, the Mavericks have been excellent at home as of late, winning five of six contests since December 16. In that span, they have three double-digits victories, including a 20-point win over the Trail Blazers.
Hawks vs. Mavericks – Picks & Predictions
A quick look at the standings paints a seemingly clear picture – the Atlanta Hawks struggle on the road and the Dallas Mavericks are one of the NBA’s best home teams. Yet, a deeper dive into this contest reveals an Atlanta team that is returning one of their most important pieces, Clint Capela, and a Dallas team that appears to be running on fumes after their recent five-game road trip.
Atlanta has not proven themselves capable of consistently closing-out games on the road, but they are likely to get off to a strong start in this one – take them to win the first half on Wednesday.
PICK: Hawks ML – First Half (+110, DraftKings)
Image Credit: Imagn