Atlanta Hawks vs Phoenix Suns Picks and Odds
- The Atlanta Hawks will visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night
- The Suns enter this home contest as 5-point favorites
- Get the full odds, preview, and best bet below
Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks will take on Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, January 13th, tip-off 9pm ET at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
The visitors started off the season on fire going 4-1, but have recently won just once in their last five contests. As for Phoenix, they’re 7-4 so far, but head into this contest fresh off a lopsided 21-point loss on Monday to a struggling Washington Wizards team.
Atlanta Hawks vs Phoenix Suns Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | +5 (-106) | +180 | O 227.5 (-110) |
| Phoenix Suns | -5 (-114) | -215 | U 227.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Jan 12 at Fanduel
Last season, the Hawks and Suns split the season series with one victory each.
Hawks Trying To Get Back In A Groove
Prior to Atlanta’s victory over a shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers squad on Monday, they lost four straight after starting off the year with such promise. Although the Hawks’ opponents early on weren’t necessarily the toughest teams in the Pistons, Grizzlies, and the Bulls, people around the league were talking.
As per usual, offensive playmaker Trae Young is leading the way in ATL, dropping 24.8 points per night while dishing out an impressive 8.5 dimes. On the glass, the Hawks have been extremely productive on both ends of the court. John Collins and Clint Capela have done a wonderful job taking care of business down low, with Lloyd Pierce’s team second in rebounds and first in offensive boards.
In their win over the Sixers on Monday, Atlanta led by 35 at one point. They also outscored their opponents 21-2 on the fast break, with Young posting a game-high 26. He controlled the tempo of this game for the Hawks while finding his stroke from downtown after previously struggling from three-point range.
Atlanta’s entire starting lineup collected 10 points or more in the win, a testament to how well-rounded this roster is. The offseason was productive for the Hawks, bringing in the likes of Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, and Danilo Gallinari, among others.
However, Gallinari and Rondo have barely even played yet due to minor injuries, while Bogdanovic just went on the shelf with a knee issue. The Serb was struggling to find his footing with Atlanta, but the other two will certainly make an impact on both ends of the floor once they return.
The season is still young, but health will play a crucial part in just how far this team can go.
Phoenix Looking To Bounce Back From Embarrassing Loss
There have been glimpses of brilliance for the Suns this season, but also moments of complete disappointment. Unfortunately, Monday was one of them. Heading into nation’s capital, every sign was pointing to a victory for Phoenix. The Wizards have been one of the worst teams in the NBA. Without Russell Westbrook and Thomas Bryant, it was basically Bradley Beal against the Suns.
Despite Booker showing out for 33 points, Monty Williams’ squad trailed by 32 at the 4:16 mark of the second quarter. Beal poured in 34, but it was ultimately Phoenix’s dreadful shooting from deep that hurt them in this game. They shot 15% from long range, draining just 4-of-27 attempts. The Suns struggled to keep Washington at bay in all areas of the court, allowing them to put on an offensive show.
The Wizards are the worst defensive team in the association, but Phoenix still couldn’t find a spark offensively. There’s been a lot of hype surrounding the Suns, with the addition of Chris Paul in particular, but these type of performances need to be eliminated.
Big man DeAndre Ayton, who is seen as a massive part of their success, hasn’t found his offensive touch quite yet, averaging just 12.5 points per night. As for Paul, his facilitating abilities are top-notch as always, but if the Suns really want to make a run at the playoffs this season, they need him to step up in the scoring department.
Best Bet
Monday night was a wake-up call for Phoenix. Despite Beal’s dominant performance, there is no way they should’ve lost by 21. Coming back home, Devin Booker and co. will be focused on putting together a solid performance.
Both of these teams are still trying to figure things out this season. Atlanta has also looked good at times, then dreadful in others. But, the Suns are 7-4 against the spread this season. With this in mind, I believe they’re a safe bet on Wednesday night.
Pick: Phoenix Suns ATS -5 (-114)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
