The Golden State Warriors (48-4) travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks (31-24) in a matchup that pits the first-ranked offense against the fifth-ranked defense. The game begins at 8:00 pm ET on Monday, Feb. 22 and will air on NBA and GS2.
The Hawks come into this game on a high note after blowing out the Bulls 113-90 in their last matchup. Jeff Teague played well, putting up 17 points, eight assists, and five rebounds for the Hawks. The Warriors, meanwhile, are coming off a 112-104 win against the Suns in their last outing. Stephen Curry was the game’s top scorer, recording 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting.
Points could be at a premium in this matchup between two of the league’s elite defenses. The Hawks rank fifth in the NBA in defensive efficiency (100.5), while the Warriors are second (99.9). Also, the Warriors’s first-ranked offense (offensive efficiency of 113.4) will face off against the fifth-ranked defense of the Hawks (defensive efficiency of 100.5).
The Hawks have gone 31-26 Straight Up (SU) and 26-29-2 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 31-26 SU and 26-29-2 ATS against the Western Conference. Atlanta has been on fire lately, averaging 117.6 points per game, well over their season average of 102.7. Atlanta’s defense is doing poorly against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, allowing an average of 108.9 points per game, well above their season average of 100.2. The Hawks are third in the league in steals with 9.5 per game. Atlanta is the league’s top scoring team off turnovers with an average of 19.3 points per game.
In the other locker room, the Warriors have 49-5 SU and 29-23-2 ATS records. In Eastern Conference games, Golden State has gone 49-5 SU and 29-23-2 ATS. The Warriors are the top-ranked scoring offense when playing on the road, averaging 115.8 points per game so far. Golden State is the top three-point shooting team in the league, knocking down 671 shots from three-point range (12.0 per game). The Warriors have controlled the glass with an average of 46.9 rebounds per game, third in the league. The Warriors rarely make costly errors handling the ball. They have the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league at 1.94. Switching gears to Golden State’s defense, teams seem to consistently miss three-point shots against the Warriors, who are the top team in the league in terms of three-point field goal percentage allowed at .314. When it comes to defending the rim, the Warriors are one of the best in the league with an average of 6.3 blocks per game.
The Hawks and the Warriors meet for what will be their first head-to-head battle of the season. Golden State won the last game in the matchup, bringing its SU record in the past 10 games to 6-4. The Warriors also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 6-4.
Predictions: SU Winner – GS
Notes
Atlanta has allowed an average of 100.2 points per game this season. Golden State averages 115.3 points per game, placing the team at the top of the NBA in scoring.
Atlanta gives up 99.5 points at home this season. Topping the league in road scoring, Golden State scores 115.8 points in away games.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Hawks are 20-9 on the season. When the Warriors score fewer than 100, they are a losing 1-3.
When the Atlanta Hawks allow at least 100 points they are 11-15, while the Golden State Warriors are 47-1 when they register triple digits.
The Hawks have an offensive rating of 103.6 (ranked 16th). The Warriors rank second for their defensive rating of 99.9.
Golden State beats Atlanta in both possessions per game and points per possession. The Warriors average 101.8 possessions and 1.134 points per possession, while the Hawks average 98.9 possessions with 1.036 points per possession.
Atlanta has an average effective field goal percentage of 51.6%, sixth-ranked in the NBA. Golden State is a fantastic 7-2 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
Among all teams, Golden State is the best when it comes to assists, registering an average of 29.2 per game. Atlanta ranks slightly lower in total assists, at second (25.3 per game).
With 6.3 blocks per game, the Golden State Warriors rank fourth in the league. The Atlanta Hawks are in the top half of NBA teams for blocking, ranking ninth with 5.5 blocks per game.
Atlanta ranks last in the league in offensive rebounding, while Golden State ranks first in the league in defensive rebounding.
Making 9.5 steals per game, Atlanta is ranked third in the NBA. Golden State has an outstanding 26-1 record when it allows at least 9 steals.
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