Game 4- Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Time is starting to run out for the Atlanta Hawks in their quest for the NBA’s Eastern Conference
title after losing the first three games of its best-of-seven clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers
in the conference finals. These two will tee it up once again in Game 4 this Tuesday night with
BetAnySports listing the Hawks as 8.5-point road underdogs with a total line of 193.5.
The Hawks failed to cover as favorites at home in the first two games of this series, but as an
eight-point road underdog for Sunday’s Game 3 they hung tough in a 114-111 loss in overtime.
The total in that contest went OVER BetAnySports’ closing 190-point line after staying UNDER
in Atlanta’s previous four games. It is now 6-9 against the spread in 15 playoff games.
Jeff Teague led the Hawks in scoring in Sunday’s loss with 30 points and all five starters ended
the game in double figures, but the key to extending this series past Tuesday night probably lies
in Atlanta’s ability to contain Cleveland on the other end of the court. The Hawks finished the
regular season ranked fifth in the NBA in points allowed (97.1) and the loss in Game 3 was the
first time they allowed more than 100 points in their last five games.
The Cavaliers were concerned how they would hold up in this series with the loss of Kevin Love
for the season and with Kyrie Irving battling through multiple injuries to an ankle and leg. The
biggest member of this big three trio of players has been able to fill the void with LeBron James
averaging 27.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.4 assists through his first 13 playoff games. He
went off in Sunday’s win with a game-high 37 points while pulling down 18 rebounds and
dishing-out 13 assists. Cleveland has also gotten a strong effort from JR Smith off the bench in
this series. He scored 17 points with 10 rebounds in Sunday’s crucial win.
Betting on Cleveland in these playoffs has been a shaky proposition lately with a 4-5 record
against the spread in its last nine games after going 3-1 ATS in a four-game sweep of Boston in
the opening round. The total has now gone an even 4-4 in its last eight contests.
It would be hard to see Cleveland losing this game at home with all the momentum in the world
on its side, but my confidence level in the Cavs’ ability to cover BetAnySports’ 8.5-point line is
really not that high. Go with the UNDER 193.5 on the total line in this one as both teams get
back to playing defense on Tuesday night.
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