Atlanta Hawks (18-20) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (17-21)
January 6, 2023 10:30 pm EDT
The Line: Los Angeles Lakers +1; Over/Under: +231.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers collide at the crypto.com Arena on Friday night.
The Atlanta Hawks have been in a funk as they’ve lost five of their last seven games overall, but they will be eager to build some momentum after putting a halt to a four-game skid with a 120-117 road win over the Kings on Wednesday. John Collins and DeAndre Hunter each scored 22 points while Trae Young and Dejounte Murray scored 21 points apiece. As a team, the Hawks shot 53 percent from the field and 10 of 30 from the 3-point line as they went back and forth with the Kings in a tight contest until they closed the final 1:16 on a decisive 7-0 run to escape with the gritty win in the end.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have been on a nice run as they’ve won four of their past five games overall and they will be aiming for a fourth straight victory after sneaking past the Heat in a 112-109 win on Wednesday. Dennis Schroder led the team with 32 points on eight of 15 shooting, Thomas Bryant and Russell Westbrook each scored 21 points while Austin Reaves chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Lakers shot 49 percent from the field and eight of 27 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 32 points in the first quarter to lead for most of the game, before they went on a pivotal 19-7 run in the fourth quarter to pull away and escape with the narrow victory.
Looking at the betting trends, the Hawks are 14-29 ATS in their last 43 road games, 2-6 ATS in their last eight games against a team with a losing record and 16-35 ATS in their last 51 games following a win. The Lakers are 21-43-1 ATS in their last 65 games following a win, 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games against a team with a losing record and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
Head to head, the Hawks are 5-11 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Los Angeles.
The Hawks are still a little shorthanded as Clint Capela has been ruled out again, while the Lakers are keeping eyes on Russell Westbrook, Damian Jones and Troy Brown Jr who are all questionable for this one. These two teams last met on Friday and it was the Lakers who won by 130-121 behind a 47-point barrage from LeBron James. The Hawks will be out for revenge in this one, but they are only 5-11 ATS in the last six 16 meetings in Los Angeles, so I think I’ll stay with the Lakers to keep their momentum going with another win in this spot.
