Philadelphia (31-17) at Atlanta (12-36)
When: Thursday, January 30th, 2020
Where: State Farm Arena,
Atlanta, GA
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: FS Southeast
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -8/227
The Atlanta Hawks might have the second-worst record in the NBA, but that hasn’t stopped them from giving the Philadelphia 76ers fits over the last two seasons. The teams will meet for the second time this season, as the 76ers begin a brutal four-game road trip on Thursday night. Philadelphia edged the Hawks 105-103 in Atlanta in late October, but the Hawks won the previous three meetings and have covered the spread in four straight. Atlanta has been playing better lately, covering five of their last eight contests, but are coming off a blowout loss in Toronto on Tuesday 130-114. The defense has allowed 130 points or more in three straight games, but they did come away with a 152-133 triumph over Washington on Sunday. The Sixers, meanwhile, have won six of their last seven games and got star center Joel Embiid back in the lineup in a win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Philadelphia is just 4-3 ATS in that seven game stretch and have not played particularly well on the road this season. The 76ers enter the game with a 9-15 SU record away from home and 7-15-2 ATS, while the Hawks are 14-9 ATS at home.
The 76ers improved to 22-2 home with the 115-104 victory over the Warriors on Tuesday and point guard Raul Neto was big off the bench with a season-high 19 points in 21 minutes. Philly shot 51.2 percent from the floor Tuesday and all five starters scored in double-figures led by Embiid’s 24 points and 10 rebounds. Embiid got permission from Sixers legend Bobby Jones to wear his No. 24 in honor of Kobe Bryant and the big man didn’t disappoint with this play. Al Horford chipped in 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while guard Ben Simmons scored 17 points and made 9-of-10 free throws. The Sixers road trip gets a lot tougher with Boston, Miami and Milwaukee on deck.
Point guard Trae Young, who was voted into the All-Star Game, is third in the NBA in scoring (29.2 points) and second in assists (nine per game) and handed out at least 13 assists in each of the last four games including Tuesday. Young was just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc in the loss at Toronto on Tuesday, but went off for 45 points in the victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Power forward John Collins led the team with 28 points on Tuesday and was 11-of-14 from the field, while also grabbing 12 rebounds. Shooting guard DeAndre’ Bembry (hand) and center Alex Len (hip) have missed the last few games and are questionable for Thursday. Atlanta will be at Dallas on Saturday.
The Sixers should win this game, but Atlanta plays tough and when Young gets going, he’s hard to stop. The Sixers don’t play well on the road and could be looking past Atlanta here. I’ll take the points.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Thursday. He is 52-43-3 on the season after a 5-0 run!
Pick: Hawks +7.5
76ers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
76ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
76ers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a road favorite.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
76ers are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 road games.
76ers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Hawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Hawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Hawks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog.
Hawks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Hawks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Hawks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Hawks are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 Thursday games.
Under is 6-1 in 76ers last 7 road games.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in 76ers last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in 76ers last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Under is 7-2 in 76ers last 9 games as a road favorite.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in 76ers last 8 games following a straight up win.
Over is 8-3 in 76ers last 11 games as a favorite.
Under is 5-2 in 76ers last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 7-3 in 76ers last 10 overall.
Under is 7-3 in 76ers last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 15-7 in 76ers last 22 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 4-0 in Hawks last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 7-1 in Hawks last 8 overall.
Over is 7-1 in Hawks last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-1 in Hawks last 8 home games.
Over is 6-1 in Hawks last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Hawks last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Hawks last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Hawks last 7 games as an underdog.
Over is 6-1 in Hawks last 7 games as a home underdog.
Over is 5-1 in Hawks last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 5-1 in Hawks last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1 in Hawks last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 9-3 in Hawks last 12 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Hawks last 7 Thursday games.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings in Atlanta.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Atlanta.
