Nets Look To Turn Things Around In Atlanta

Brooklyn (17-8 SU, 9-15-1 ATS) has lost three of its last six games, going just 1-5 ATS during that stretch. The Nets opened as 1.5-point road favorites against the Hawks (13-12, 11-14), who have covered eight of their last 12. Brooklyn has won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the clubs.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Getting Brooklyn as a short favorite always looks like an appealing option, but the Nets have burned a lot of bettors recently in this situation. Brooklyn is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine games when favored by three points or less, going UNDER the total in all but one of those contests.

Nets News & Notes

The Nets rested Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge in Wednesday’s 111-104 loss at Houston, and they could choose to sit another of their stars tonight as they play their third road game in four days. James Harden played more than 80 minutes combined in back-to-back games at Dallas and the Rockets and hinted to reporters Wednesday night that he might need a rest.

“We’ll see how I feel (Thursday) and we’ll see how I feel Friday. We’ll just take it day by day,” Harden told the New York Post. Judging by Harden’s recent shooting numbers, he could use a break. The Beard has shot 36.5% from the field or worse in five of his last seven games, including an ugly four-for-16 performance against Houston.

His teammates may be feeling the effects of Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris’ prolonged absences as well. Brooklyn is just 3-3 SU in its last six games, going 1-5 ATS in that span. The Nets have gone UNDER the total in five of those contests, including each of the last four.

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Hawks News & Notes

Rest certainly isn’t an issue for the Hawks, who have enjoyed three days off since hitting a franchise-record 25 three-pointers in Monday’s 121-110 win at Minnesota. The huge performance from behind the arc moved Atlanta to the top of the league in three-point percentage (38.6%), even though they typically don’t shoot that many of them. Prior to Monday, the Hawks had attempted the fifth-fewest triples in the NBA.

Atlanta has managed to go 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games despite injuries to several of its wings. Cam Reddish and Bogdan Bogdanovic have each missed four straight contests, while Solomon Hill is expected to miss the rest of the year with a torn hamstring. Bogdanovic is likely out for a couple more weeks, although Reddish could return tonight from his left wrist sprain.

With all of those players sidelined, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has taken advantage of an opportunity to get into the starting lineup. The seventh-year forward hit a career-high seven threes against Minnesota and is averaging nearly 11 points per game in his last four starts.

How Brooklyn Will Cover

Prior to Wednesday’s loss in Houston with a shorthanded lineup, the Nets had won their previous six road games. Durant should also be refreshed by a couple days of rest after averaging more than 40 minutes in his previous five games, and he may be motivated to take the team on his back and pull Brooklyn out of its recent funk.

How Atlanta Will Cover

Extra rest has been good this year for the Hawks, who are 2-0 SU and ATS this season with three or more days off between games. Atlanta has outscored its opponents in those games by an average of 113.5-99.

Computer Pick: Hawks -1

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