NBA weekend betting preview: Hawks' offense ready to explode
The Nets and Mavericks both look to take a 3-0 series lead Friday, while a heated Knicks-Hawks series gears up for its first game in Atlanta.
Here's what bettors should keep an eye out for this weekend.
Knicks @ Hawks (-5, 211)
May 28, 7 p.m. ET
The higher-seeded Knicks closed as two-point favorites or shorter in both home contests to tip off the series. The market must be expecting a bounce-back game from the Hawks, who are laying a moderate five points in Game 3. For context, New York has been underdogs of five points or larger twice since April 16, versus the Clippers and Suns.
Atlanta went ice-cold in the nine-point loss Wednesday. An offense that averaged 33.4 triples per game during the regular season jacked up a whopping 44 in Game 2, converting only 12.
Overall, the Hawks were 31-of-84 (36.9%) from the floor. That shooting clip was the worst since their 33% mark against the 76ers in late April, though that was with star guard Trae Young on the shelf.
Atlanta should be fine if it doesn't stray too far away from the game plan. Although the Knicks paced the league in opponent field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage during the regular season, the Hawks had cashed eight straight team totals prior to the Game 2 dud.
This is a nice spot to buy low on Atlanta's offense with the series heading to a raucous arena.
Pick: Hawks team total over 108.5
Nets @ Celtics (+8, 227)
May 28, 8:30 p.m.
The Nets rolled the Celtics in Game 2, pushing the East's No. 2 seed to a 7-0 run both straight up and against the spread dating back to the regular season.
Brooklyn's potent offense ran like a well-oiled machine en route to a 130-point outburst Tuesday. But it's the defense that's flying under the radar.
Since the Big Three of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden were all inserted into the lineup May 11, the Nets are allowing opponents to shoot roughly 40.3% from the floor. Over that span, their opponents' team total is 4-2 to the under.
Boston's a formidable offensive unit, but it can't get anything going amid Jayson Tatum's struggles. He's been a non-factor, as he's 6-of-26 from the field since the first quarter of Game 1.
The Celtics don't have enough firepower to keep pace with an elite opponent.
Pick: Celtics team total under 110.5
Clippers @ Mavericks (+1.5, 219.5)
May 28, 9:30 p.m.
I'm betting the under again as the total ticks up almost a full four points from Game 2 to 3.
Defense was optional Tuesday. Both offensive units shot better than 50% from the floor in Dallas' 127-121 win. The favored Clippers - who coughed up a 3-1 lead last year to the Nuggets - are all of a sudden in a do-or-die situation away from home.
And it all starts with the defense.
There might not be an answer for Luka Doncic - he posted a triple-double in Game 1, then poured in 39 in Game 2 - but if the Clippers can limit Dallas' role players and, I don't know, maybe show they actually want to be in the playoffs, they should keep the Mavericks to a low total.
L.A. is on a 3-0 run to the under after suffering back-to-back losses, and a 7-1-2 run to the under during its last 10 games when giving points in the postseason.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, have cashed 21 of the last 26 unders when they're 'dogs. Don't expect the offenses to have their way like they did in Game 2.
Pick: Under 219.5
Jazz @ Grizzlies (+5, 224)
May 29, 9:30 p.m.
The Grizzlies have no answer for the high screen-and-roll. The Jazz ran circles around Memphis in Donovan Mitchell's Game 2 return, evening up the series with an emphatic 141-129 victory.
The points should keep coming in droves this weekend.
Utah's cashed five overs in a row as a playoff favorite, as well as five straight after putting up 125 or more points in its previous game. Memphis, on the other hand, is 8-3 to the over during its last 11 as a 'dog.
Time to make it three straight overs in this first-round tilt.
Pick: Over 224
Suns @ Lakers (-6.5, 210)
May 30, 3:30 p.m.
A solid effort - and maybe even a win - in Game 4 would do wonders for the Suns, who have dropped two straight in the series after beating the Lakers by nine in the opener.
Everything went wrong for Phoenix in Thursday's Game 3 loss. The offense had its worst shooting performance (42.6%) in the series and the Lakers rode a pumped-up Staples Center crowd to a 14-point win. How will L.A. respond?
Recently, the franchise has been awful in this spot, riding a woeful 0-7 run against the spread following a double-digit victory, with five outright losses over that span.
Take the Suns in what's essentially a must-win situation.
Pick: Suns +6.5
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.