Indiana Pacers vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 13/04/2024, 17:45  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 13/04/2024 at 18:41 in NBA Prediction

The Atlanta Hawks will travel to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse to face the Indiana Pacers in their final match of the NBA regular season on Sunday. The hosts are 36-45 and seventh in the Eastern Conference while the visitors are 36-45 and tenth in the Conference standings. 

Sunday's outcome holds no bearing on Atlanta's postseason destiny, as they are securely positioned as the 10th seed in the Play-In tournament, set to face the ninth-seeded Chicago Bulls in an elimination matchup next week. The Hawks head into their final game following a narrow 109-106 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, where Trae Young, returning from a 23-game absence due to finger surgery, contributed 19 points and seven assists, with Bogdan Bogdanovic adding 17 points. Young's return provides a significant boost to the Hawks, who have struggled in his absence, and he is expected to see increased minutes in preparation for the upcoming play-in game against Chicago.

After the Indiana Pacers fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers triumphed over the Orlando Magic on Friday, the Pacers slid to seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings, just outside the automatic playoff qualification. The top six teams secure direct entry to the playoffs, while the seventh to tenth seeds enter the Play-In Tournament. Indiana holds a 3-0 series advantage over the Atlanta Hawks this season. The Pacers boast the league's highest-scoring offense, averaging 122.9 points per game, only 2.8 points more than the Hawks allow. However, their defense ranks among the worst, conceding 120.3 points per game. A victory in their upcoming game is crucial for the Pacers to stay in contention for a top-six finish.