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NBA Playoff Betting – (2) Cavaliers at (1) Hawks (Game 2)

Zack Garrison

by Zack Garrison in News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:39 AM PST

Cleveland Cavaliers (-1.5, 197 o/u) at Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks expected Lebron James to have a big night in Game 1; J.R. Smith, however, was another story. Smith was the X-factor, shooting 8 of 12 from three and leading the Cavaliers to a 97-89 series opening win over Atlanta. Now the embattled guard will look to stay hot tonight as the Cavaliers try to take a stranglehold on the series at Philips Arena (8:00 PM Eastern).

The Cavaliers entered Game 1 as one-point underdogs, but are favorites tonight after James went off for 31 points and looked impossible to block at times in the opener.

“He’s the closest thing to Superman there is out there,” coach David Blatt said about James to the Associated Press. “That’s the only way I can explain it.”

But not all is well for the Cavs, as Kyrie Irving is battling through tendinitis and a right foot strain; the dynamic point guard is questionable for Game 2.

“He wants to be out there at his best, and he’s dealing with a situation that’s not easy for him,” Blatt added. “On the other hand he’s still out there contributing and giving us things we really need and battling through this thing with heart and with courage.”

The Game 1 setback was just the second home loss for the Hawks in these playoffs; they also dropped Game 1 last round against the Wizards before going on to win the series in six.

If they’re going to repeat that feat against Cleveland, they’ll have to do it shorthanded. The team was dealt a blow when small forward DeMarre Carroll left Wednesday’s game with a knee injury. An MRI showed a sprain but no structural damage, but Carroll – whom the Hawks use as their main on-the-ball defender against James – is still questionable for Game 2, meaning someone else will likely need to guard the four-time MVP.

While slowing down James will be crucial tonight, the rebounding battle will arguably be even more decisive. The Hawks were outrbounded 49-37 in Game 1, including 12 offensive rebounds by Cleveland. They’ll have to clean up on the glass in order to avoid falling behind 0-2.

The Hawks are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games and 1-4 ATS in their last five games versus teams with a winning percentage above .600.  Cleveland, meanwhile, is 7-3 ATS in their last ten road games versus teams with a winning record at home. That makes LeBron and the Cavs (-1.5) look like a solid play.

Pick: Cleveland -1.5.

(Photo credit: Keith Allison [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo has been cropped.)

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