Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/3/2023

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Where to watch: BSSE-ATL, ROOT-SP+

DraftKings: Hawks -7

FanDuel: Hawks -7

BetMGM: Hawks -6.5

Caesars: Hawks -6.5

Blazers: 29-33

Hawks: 31-31

The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!

I, for one, am a fan of Trae Young and Damian Lillard possibly exchanging buckets all night long on a fun night in Atlanta. That’s what we get with the Portland Trail Blazers hitting up the ATL to take on the Hawks in what might be another night to remember for one Mr. Lillard.

 

Damian Lillard remains hot as all hell after scoring an absurd 71 points against the Houston Rockets on Sunday — yes, I know, it’s the Rockets and it shouldn’t count, but it does — and followed that with 41 in a 121-110 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Lillard is averaging 40 points per game in the last week and a half.

 

"I think right now a lot of these games are not going in our favor," Lillard said. "A lot of times it eventually comes back and you start to win some of these games. That's why I feel like it's possible for us, some of these games start swinging back in our favor."

 

Despite Lillard’s absurd tear, the Blazers have still lost four of five with the lone win needing Lillard’s 71 points. The Blazers have failed to cover in four of the last five and eight of the last 10 (2-7-1). They’ve just been struggling to get any form of consistency which has allowed Lillard the green light to just go off. The Blazers are 1.5 games back of New Orleans for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference.

 

The Hawks will be taking the floor for the second time in the Quin Snyder era, with Atlanta coming off a 119-116 loss to the Washington Wizards in the first game of the new coach in Atlanta, who replaced Nate McMillan a week ago.

 

Young had 31 points, continuing a great year of averaging 27 points and 10 assists per game. But you shouldn’t sleep on Young this time; he had 56 the last time the Hawks faced the Blazers.

 

"There are things we can get better at and there are some things that I can do to help us as well. A lot of different things that went on that we can pay attention to and work on them," Snyder said. "Big picture, I thought we really competed. I liked how aggressive we were shooting the ball."

 

The Hawks are eighth in the East with plenty of space to go up the standings should they find some rhythm. It’s just so difficult to get something established with a new coach in time. I guess that’s why they signed him to a five-year deal, I suppose.

 

It helps a big deal that the Hawks are at home. It’ll be easier to adjust to Snyder’s gameplan rather than trying to get it handled on the road. Portland is in a weird spot, but it might help that Anfernee Simons is coming back. However, ankles are always tender unless you’re Superman. Atlanta should be able to pull this one out. Hawks 120, Blazers 113

Blazers are 14-16 ATS on the road this season.

Blazers are 8-19 ATS when playing 5 games or less in 14 days the last 3 seasons.

Blazers are 9-5 ATS off a home loss this season.

Hawks are 13-21 ATS as a favorite this season.

Hawks are 10-14 ATS as a home favorite this season.

PG: Damian Lillard

SG: Anfernee Simons

SF: Cam Reddish

PF: Jerami Grant

C: Drew Eubanks

PG: Trae Young

SG: Dejounte Murray

SF: De'Andre Hunter

PF: John Collins

C: Clint Capela

Injury report

Blazers: Jusuf Nurkic (calf, out), Justise Winslow (ankle, out)

Hawks: None