Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks
Time: 7 PM ET, May 1, 2014
TV: NBA TV
Spread: IND -1
Total: 187
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Atlanta Hawks won a pivotal game 5 in Indiana on Monday (Apr 28) night, defeating the Pacers 107-97.
The Hawks will have a chance to close things out at home against the top seeded Pacers, but NBA oddsmakers still list the Pacers as 1-point favorites in the affair.
The Hawks placed six scorers in double figures in game five, led by Shelvin Mack’s impressive game off the bench. Mack scored 20 points and dropped five assists in 25 minutes of play, connecting on 5-of-9 from the floor (2-of-4 three-pointers) and 8-of-10 from the line. Paul Millsap was effective again on the interior for the Hawks, scoring 18 points and grabbing eight boards. Millsap also swatted four shots.
Roy Hibbert played just 12 minutes in game five and finished with 0 points and 0 boards. He’s effectively gone from having an All-Star season to being entirely useless to the Pacers. Accordingly, Frank Vogel has gone with a number of smaller lineups, and Ian Mahinmi only saw 16 minutes as well.
C.J. Watson stepped in off the bench and scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and the Pacers outscored the Hawks 30-20 in the final period, but it was not enough to overcome the disastrous second quarter which saw Atlanta win the period 41-19 to take a 21 point lead at the half.
For the Pacers to have any chance in this series, it is going to have to come out much more aggressive from the tip, and it’s going to have to happen on the road. Though the Pacers are favored by a point in this matchup, I expect the Hawks to close it out and advance tonight.
BETTING TRENDS
IND Trends: 4-0 ATS in last 4 following SU loss; OVER 7-0 in last 7 following double-digit loss at home; OVER 6-1 in last 7 when opponent scores 100 points or more in previous game.
ATL Trends: UNDER 6-0 in last 6 home games; UNDER 6-1 in last 7 games following SU win; UNDER 5-1 in last 6 when opponent allows 100 points or more in previous game.
Head-to-head: UNDER 5-0 in last 5 meetings in Atlanta; Pacers 5-13 ATS in last 18 meetings in Atlanta.
