Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks odds & best bet

There is a three-way tie at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff standings. With just five games to play Brooklyn, Atlanta, and Charlotte all have the same record. Those three teams, plus Cleveland, make up the 7,8,9, and 10 spots for the play-in tournament, and who plays who is up in the air.

Amazingly, even though Brooklyn is essentially tied for 10th, they are still expected to take the Eastern Conference (at least in Vegas - though I wonder if they might be having a hard time pricing that extra step). 

Atlanta also has to be disappointed with their positioning right now. The Hawks were in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and nearly won it but this team has failed to find the spark that last year's team had. 

There is still a lot to settle in the Eastern Conference over the final week of the season. On Saturday night we get a game that will go a long way in impacting how things shake out. 

Game Info

Brooklyn Nets (40-37) vs. Atlanta Hawks (40-37)
Saturday, April 2, 2022
7:30 PM ET
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
NBA TV

Game Odds

Spread: Nets -3 (-110), +3 (-110)
Total: 241.5
Moneyline: Nets -150, +125

Best Bet

Brooklyn Nets -3

Brooklyn is coming off an emotional loss against Milwaukee (what a game!!). It lost at home to the Bucks in OT but this is a team that has been better on the road than at home all season long, going 23-16 SU away from Brooklyn. Some of that has to be the fact that guard Kyrie Irving has only recently been permitted to play in home games, right?

The duo of Irving and Kevin Durant is really going to have to step it up Saturday night, especially with Seth Curry and Bruce Brown questionable. That duo represents two starters and Brooklyn's two best complimentary players. Leaning on Durant and Irving is not a bad strategy against a team like Atlanta, though. If the Nets can turn this one into a fast-paced game those two players should more than get theirs and that should lead to a win. I also like Brooklyn's ability to compete inside with the like of Andre Drummond.

Atlanta is on a four-game winning streak but this team just hasn't been able to find the gear it did last year. Nobody saw that playoff run coming. After a midseason coaching change the Hawks found something in their game that helped them have a lot of success (it was mostly defense, but also intensity). They are just missing that spark this season. It feels like any game, against any opponent, they could win by 20 points or lose by 20. That is definitely not where you want to be this time of year. You need to have things figured out by now. 

Brooklyn has won both of their games against Atlanta this season, covering twice. Those games were in November and December, however, so there is not as much relevance given the turnover of rosters since then.

The Nets are not just winning on the road, they are covering too. They are 22-15-2 ATS. This is a small number so most winning outcomes are going to get us there. The Nets are 15-5 SU as a road favorite this season.