76ers vs Hawks Picks and Predictions: Atlanta Rolls Against Philly Backups

With the playoffs approaching, no one needs to remind the Philadelphia 76ers that the real tests lie ahead – and the visitors are expected to turn to their reserves for tonight’s contest against the Atlanta Hawks.

The 76ers are locked into the No. 3 seed in the East and looked like a team with nothing to play for in last night’s lackluster 129-101 loss to the Miami Heat. Joel Embiid was held to 21 points and six rebounds as the MVP race nears the finish line, and he’s unlikely to travel to Atlanta today.

It’s going to have to be the play-in route for the Hawks, and a win here would clinch Atlanta’s spot in the No 7 vs. 8 matchup, earning two shots at reaching the postseason. The hosts cruised to a 134-116 win over the Wizards on Wednesday behind 25 points and 16 assists from Trae Young.

Check out our free 76ers vs Hawks NBA picks and predictions for a closer look at this Friday, April 7 matchup.

76ers vs Hawks best odds

Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account

76ers vs Hawks picks and predictions

With the likelihood that Doc Rivers will be working with a depleted roster tonight, I’m staying away from Philadelphia 76ers props. There’s just no upside for Philly in overextending its stars and risking a devastating injury on the eve of the postseason. Instead, I’m counting on an Atlanta Hawks offense that’s been humming lately. 

While facing the Wizards’ reserves on Wednesday was hardly the sternest test, Atlanta took care of business in a 134-point outing. They hung 123 points on the Bulls on Tuesday and put up 132 points against the Mavericks at the weekend.

The Hawks are third in the NBA in points per game (118.3) and I expect Trae Young and Dejounte Murray to put on a show tonight against an opponent with eyes on the playoffs. The 76ers have struggled to contain shifty guards all year.

Atlanta’s balanced offense was in full effect in midweek against the Wizards, as five players scored more than 15 points, and the hosts always have an elite playmaker on the floor with the way that the minutes are staggered for Young and Murray.

The Hawks have fought hard to stay out of the No. 9 vs. 10 game, and I don’t see them taking their foot off the gas here, especially with the chance to make Sunday’s final game of the season meaningless (and buy rest time for their starters).

My best bet: Hawks team total Over 123.5 (+120 at bet365)

76ers vs Hawks spread analysis

With Philadelphia set to rest key players, including Embiid, Atlanta starts as a 9.5-point favorite tonight. The tight play-in race has pushed the Hawks into postseason mode and, unlike the visitors, they still have an incentive to chase wins. 

Until Wednesday’s win over the Wizards, Atlanta had been within a game of .500 since January 21, unable to string victories together, but the Hawks’ win in Chicago on Tuesday confirmed that this team is heading in the right direction under Quin Synder, as Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic stepped up to carry the Hawks without Young, who sat out with a non-COVID illness. 

The 76ers have lost their last four games on the road, including a 117-104 loss in Milwaukee, but Philadelphia understandably eased off this week as its chances of catching the Boston Celtics dwindled in the race for the No. 2 seed.

While the Hawks have failed to cover the spread in their last four games against teams with a winning percentage above .600, that’s not the kind of 76ers lineup that they’ll be facing here.

76ers vs Hawks Over/Under analysis

I’ve already picked the Hawks to have a lights-out shooting night, but that doesn’t make the Over a no-brainer. 

Young seemed to benefit from a night off on Tuesday, returning with a monster stat line against the Wizards, and his ability to get into the paint and draw defenders results in so many easy buckets for Clint Capela, John Collins, and Onyeka Okongwu around the rim.

The uncertainty with picking the Over really stems from the Philadelphia side of this matchup. With the 76ers leaning heavily on their reserves, the visitors face an uphill battle to get good looks, though Atlanta’s defense would take a hit if De’Andre Hunter is unavailable. Expect to see a lot of Paul Reed, Montrezl Harrell, and Furkan Korkmaz.

Like with the ATS, you can throw out most of the trends given the Philadelphia skeleton crew hitting the floor tonight - but even the full-strength 76ers have been trending towards the Under against teams with a winning record (it’s hit in eight of their last nine games in that spot).

76ers vs Hawks betting trend to know

Despite the offensive talent on both rosters, this matchup has regularly dipped below the Over/Under line in recent years. The Under is 9-1 in the past 10 meetings and it’s cashed in for the last four in Atlanta. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Hawks.

76ers vs Hawks game info

76ers vs Hawks key injuries

Pages related to this topic