Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Betting Preview

Opening Line: Celtics -4 / Hawks +4 O/U 191

Time: 7:30 PM EST Friday January 29, 2010 on NBA TV

Tonight down south the Atlanta Hawks host the struggling Boston Celtics. Even though both teams lost their last game the Hawks have been playing well, as they have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games and are tied with the Orlando Magic for 1st place in the Southeast Division. The Celtics are only 4-6 in their last 10 games, but still lead the Toronto Raptors by 6 games in the Atlantic Division.

This season the Celtics are 17-25 ATS and the Hawks are a NBA best 29-14 ATS.

In their last game Boston lost to the Orlando Magic 96-94 last night and the Hawks were crushed 105-90 by the San Antonio Spurs 105-90 on Wednesday night.

The Celtics are 2 games under .500 in their last 10 games, but they recently got Kevin Garnett back from injury and are 2-1 with their defensive stud in the lineup. The loss last night was a tough one in Orlando, as they gave up a 14-point lead in the 4th quarter.

This game will be offense vs. defense, as the Hawks rank 7th in the league in scoring (102.6 ppg) and the Celtics rank 2nd in points allowed (93.7 ppg).

If Atlanta can win this game they will overtake 2nd place over Boston in the Eastern Conference.

After losing all 4 games to the Celtics last season the Hawks have won both games against the Celtics this season, but in both of those games KG was out with a bum knee.

KG and Kendrick Perkins will have to play solid defense tonight against Hawks' C Al Horford (13.6 ppg 9.8 rpg), who was recently named to his first All Star team.

The Celtics have to play good D on Joe Johnson (21.3 ppg) and Josh Smith (15.1) and not let these two have big scoring games.

Celtics' PG Rajon Rondo (14.1 ppg 9.6 assists per game) was also recently named to his first All Star team and he can really help Boston win if he can score and dish out the rock to the guards of Paul Pierce (18.7 ppg) and Ray Allen (16 ppg). If these 2 of the Big 3 can shoot the rock tonight and score and the Celtics can play some solid defense they have a legit shot to win this away game.

Boston is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games, 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5, and has an Over record of 5-2 in their last 7 road games.

Atlanta is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games against teams with a winning road record, and has an Under record of 8-2 in their last 10 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.

Our Selection : The Celtics are playing back to back on the heels of a heartbreaking loss last night versus the Magic where they allowed the Magic to come back from a 16 point deficit. Atlanta has owned Boston this season winning all 3 match-ups SU and ATS. The average winning margin was 8.3 points in those wins and the Hawks are only being asked to lay 3.5 points tonight. Take the Hawks -3.5


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