Atlanta Hawks at LA Lakers Odds & Picks 1/7/22

When: Friday, January 7th, 2022, 10:00 pm (ET)

Where: Crytpo.com Center, Los Angeles, CA

TV: ESPN

Point Spread: ATL +2.5/LAL -2.5 (Opened at 2.5 at Bovada – Check out their live betting platform! It’s amazing!)

Total: 226 (Opened at 226)

Money Line: ATL +115/LAL -140

Power Rating: LAL -6

Probable Starting Lineups

Atlanta Hawks: PG Trae Young, SG Bogdan Bogdanovic, SF Cam Reddish, PF John Collins, C Clint Capela

Los Angeles Lakers: PG Russell Westbrook, SG Malik Monk, SF Avery Bradley, PF Trevor Ariza, C LeBron James

Key Injuries

Atlanta Hawks: G Trae Young *Questionable* (Back), F Cam Reddish *Probable* (Ankle), G Chris Clemons *Out* (Covid), G Bogdan Bogdanovic *Questionable* (Conditioning), F John Collins *Questionable* (Conditioning), F Jalen Johnson *Questionable* (Conditioning), C Gorgui Dieng *Out* (Covid), F Solomon Hill *Out* (Hamstring), F De’Andre Hunter *Out* (Wrist)

Los Angeles Lakers: F LeBron James *Probable* (Abdomen), F Anthony Davis *Out* (Knee), G Kendrick Nunn *Out* (Covid)

Recent Form

The Atlanta Hawks come into this game with a 17-20 record and sit 12th in the Eastern Conference. After an Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season, the Hawks are off to a slow start and would miss out on the play-in tournament if the season ended today. Coming off a 5-9 record in December, the Hawks split their first two games of the new year. In their loss to the Trail Blazers, the Hawks put up 131 points, which is their second-highest total this season. Last time on the floor, Atlanta got their first win of the year in a 108-102 final over the Sacramento Kings. Trae Young is having an impressive season that has put him into the MVP conversation as he is averaging 28.4 PPG. As a team, the Hawks are the 7th best scoring offense, averaging 111.1 PPG. Defensively, Atlanta has the 23rd scoring defense as they allow 111.0 PPG. After their last win, Atlanta now has a positive point differential.

The Los Angeles Lakers head into this matchup against the Hawks with a 20-19 record and sit 6th in the Western Conference. After a rough stretch in the month of December, the Lakers have now won three straight and four of their last five games. LeBron continues to make his case for MVP, and the Lakers may have put together their best outing in the 122-114 win over the Kings on Tuesday. While giving up 114 points is nothing to write home about defensively, the team was able to break their terrible turnover streak. As a team, the Lakers gave up only five turnovers, which is their best mark since 2019, and Russell Westbrook has a turnover-less game for the first time in over 400 games. The Lakers are led by Lebron, who is scoring 28.6 PPG this season. Los Angeles continues their move up the charts to the 6th best scoring offense at 111.3 PPG. The Lakers continue their defensive struggle with the 26th best scoring defense, allowing 112.0 PPG.

Lakers Turn a New Leaf

After struggling for the first two and a half months of the NBA season, the Lakers are starting to show themselves as the team people expected them to be before the season. While staying above the .500 mark has been a struggle of theirs this year, should they continue to play the way they have, we may not see them with a losing record the rest of the way. The biggest factor in the Lakers’ success falls once again into the hands of LeBron James. James is making 30-point outings look like a formality at this point after posting another in their last win. Now how will the Lakers match up with the Hawks in this game? The Atlanta Hawks defense is struggling as of late, allowing 118.7 points per game over their last three games and over 111 points per game on the road this season. With starters like Young, Bogdanovic, and Collins listed as questionable as they are dealing with injuries or looking to “recondition” coming off the Covid list, the Lakers offense will be a mismatch with their size. The biggest matchup to pay attention to in this one is Russell Westbrook and Trae Young, as Young is giving up size, athleticism, and explosiveness in the paint.

Hawks on the Road

The Atlanta Hawks have struggled this season overall with a 9-11 record but have been solid as of late for bettors who have stood in their corner against the spread. On the season, the Hawks are 8-12 ATS on the road but are 8-3 in their last eleven games and 5-2 in their last seven as a road underdog. Usually, a larger spread is against Atlanta, but the odds are giving the Lakers just 2.5 points in this one, meaning to cover, the Hawks may have to steal the outright win.

Lakers at Home

After a slow start at home, the Lakers are starting to grow into their newly named Crypto.com Center with a 13-10 home record. Despite struggling at home against the spread this season, going 8-15, the Lakers are trending up, going 4-1 in their last five games. While in the bottom five defensively, the Lakers have turned the ship around quickly, allowing just 107.7 PPG, well below their 112.0 season average. Worth noting also is that those three games were also at home. With their improving offense, averaging 123.0 PPG over their last three games, the Lakers will look to take advantage of the Hawks poor defense, who has been beaten down on their six-game road trip.

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The Historicals

Friday’s matchup will be the first time these cross-conference teams face this season. Looking back at the last few years, the Lakers have won three of the last four, though Atlanta won in their most recent matchup in March of last season.

How the Public is Betting the Hawks vs. Lakers

71% are betting the Lakers against the spread.

57% are wagering on the game to go over the posted total of 226.

Betting Trends Worth Noting

• The Atlanta Hawks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games.
• The Atlanta Hawks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as road underdogs.
• The Los Angeles Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
• The Los Angeles Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing record.
• Over is 4-1 in the Hawks’ last 5 games.
• Over is 5-1 in the Lakers’ last 6 games as a favorite.
• Under is 5-1 in the last 6 games between the Hawks and Lakers.

Collin’s Pick for Hawks/Lakers

This Friday night matchup features two teams meeting for the first time this season. The Hawks come in with a mediocre season so far as they look to piece their team back together from injuries and Covid absences. After a disappointing start for the Lakers, they’ve turned things around in a hurry, winning three straight by not turning the ball over nearly as much. No matter who Atlanta puts on the court in this game, it won’t be enough against the Lakers, who are finding their groove. Take the Lakers to cover the 2.5-point spread. Bet your Hawks vs. Lakers pick and ALL your NBA bets for FREE this week by scoring a 100% real cash bonus on your first deposit up to $1000 at Betnow Sportsbook! The biggest bonus on the web from a legit sportsbook!