NBA Friday Game of the Night: Warriors @ Hawks and a +2168 Parlay

Stephen Curry is iffy and Draymond Green is suspended for the Warriors as they prepare to play the Hawks in Atlanta on Friday night. Trae Young had 30 points and 14 assists the last time these two teams met and he’s coming in hot. 

The Warriors and Hawks are both fighting for their playoff lives right now and are coming off tough losses. The Warriors are currently the No. 6 seed in the West and hold a 1.0 game lead on the Timberwolves. If the season ended today they’d be in and avoid a playoff scenario, but they’re not in the clear just yet. 

The Hawks are currently No. 8 in the East and a full 3.0 games behind the No. 7 Heat, making it start to feel like they’re going to be in the play-in tourney, at best. They’re only ½ game ahead of the No. 9 Raptors, 2.0 games up on No. 10 Washington and 2.5 games ahead of the No. 11 Pacers, who are currently on the outside looking in despite an unbelievable win over the Bucks last night.

Injuries

The Warriors will be without a handful of players tonight as Green serves his suspension and Andrew Wiggins is out for personal reasons. Center Kevon Looney is probable with a sore back and Curry is iffy due to his thumb/hand injury. With all of that going on Jonathan Kuminga and Jordan Poole could be in for a big game tonight. 

The Hawks are healthy and Young has been feasting, scoring at least 25 points each of their last five games, and had 41 against the Wolves on Monday. 

Last Meeting

The Warriors got a big 143-141 win at Golden State on Jan. 2. Curry didn’t play in that one so Jordan Poole went off for 28 points and Klay Thompson went nuts, hitting 10 3-pointers and 21-of-39 shots for a season-high 54. Looney also went bonkers in that one with 14 points and 20 rebounds and Kuminga was also out for the Warriors.

The Hawks got 30 points and 14 dimes from Young, Dejounte Murray just missed a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, John Collins had a rare great game with 25 points and 13 rebounds, Onyeka Okongwu chipped in for 16 points and 12 rebounds while filling in for Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter added 17 points, two steals, two blocks and two triples. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 21 points off the bench. 

Defense

The Warriors give up 25.84 points to opposing point guards so Young and Murray should both feast again. The Hawks give up 23.75 points to opposing shooting guards so Klay could have another big night and they give up 22.91 points to small forwards, meaning Kuminga should be a big factor, as well. That’s fourth-worst in the entire league and they’re even worse against power forwards. Speaking of PFs, the Warriors give up a sixth-worst 23.03 points to them meaning Collins should have some room to work tonight. And neither team is great against opposing centers putting Looney and Capela in line to do things tonight. 

Records

The Hawks are 18-15 at home and the Warriors are just 7-27 on the road, which is part of the reason the Hawks are favored by 4.5. And if Curry’s out the Warriors might be in trouble.

Pick

The Oddscrowd algorithm gives the Hawks a 2.2% +EV Edge on the moneyline and we like them to take care of business at home tonight, especially if Curry is out. 

Pick: Hawks -4.5

Four Leg Same Game +2168 Parlay

Leg 1: Trae Young to score 30+ points

Leg 2: Klay Thompson to score 25+ points

Leg 3: John Collins to score 15+ points

Leg 4: Clint Capela to score 10+ points