Filip Tomic
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Game 2 of this series was much closer than Game 1, but now the Atlanta Hawks are in a must-win situation as they host the Miami Heat at State Farm Arena for Game 3. Tip-off is tonight at 7:00 pm ET on ESPN, and you can find my same game parlay for the matchup below.
We also have predictions on the side and total for the 2 other NBA Playoffs games today, so make sure you check those out.
Let’s dive into the Heat vs Hawks matchup!
Atlanta Hawks 1-10 win margin (+200)
Trae Young to score 35+ points (+350)
Kevin Huerter 2+ made threes (-320)
Parlay odds: +1293
Atlanta Hawks 1-10 win margin (+200)
Atlanta’s best chance of winning in this series is at home where they’ve gone 28-14 SU this season. Their only win against Miami was a 110-108 home triumph back on January 22, and the pressure is on them tonight to not go down 0-3, as no team in NBA history has come back from that deficit to win a series.
After a poor showing in Game 1, Trae Young picked it up from the field in Game 2 and shot 50%. However, his 3-point shooting was still off as he finished 2-for-10 from deep. This being a home game I expect role players like Gallinari, Huerter and Okongwu to play a lot better. The Hawks feed off the home crowd’s energy a lot, and if they can get the ball out of Butler’s hands and find a way to get Adebayo in foul trouble once again, they’ll have a chance. The Hawks also have to find ways to get Young going early on, as he’s averaged 30.2 points per game at State Farm Arena this season. I’m backing the Hawks to secure a narrow win here.
Be sure to check out our full Game 3 preview for Miami Heat vs Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young to score 35+ points (+350)
We are still waiting on the big Trae Young game in this series. Games 1 and 2 were very physical and Young just couldn’t find his way, especially from downtown as he’s shooting just 11.8% so far. With the series moving to Atlanta, I think the officials will change their approach a bit and the whistle should favor the home team more, which is generally how things work in the playoffs. The 25 points Young scored in Game 2 were a good building block for what’s to come tonight.
Atlanta remains without Capela, which will essentially force them to play small-ball once again which should result in a ton of points scored. Young has averaged 30.2 points per game at State Farm Arena this season and I expect a bit more from him tonight as he carries the Hawks to their first win of the series.
Read our NBA Playoffs mega parlay for Friday’s action (+1013 odds!)
Kevin Huerter 2+ made threes (-320)
Role players tend to play better at home — that’s the unwritten rule of the NBA playoffs. Huerter is shooting the three-ball at 38.5% so far in the series which is just around his average during the regular season. He’s made 2 and 3 threes in the two games of this series so far, and playing at home, I believe he’ll find it much easier to make shots. During the regular season, he averaged 2.3 made shots from downtown in 38 home games, and over his last 10 games he’s shooting it at 46.5%. The last time he faced Miami at home he finished with 21 points and made 5-of-9 shots from three. He only has to make 2 of them for our bet to land.
Also check our +650 and +1400 odds first-basket best bets for tonight!
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