Indiana has not been the same team since the second-half of the season began, and lost its playoff opener to the Hawks. They were able to rebound in game two to tie the series at one game apiece, but Atlanta is certainly in the Pacers heads right now. Even though the Pacers won handily in game two, by 16 points, we still think Atlanta has a shot in this series, which is why we will back them to take the series lead tonight.
Hawks happy to be home tied at one
After splitting the first two games of this series, the Hawks are thrilled to be home with a 1-1 series tie, taking home-court advantage from the Pacers for the time being. Atlanta has been coming out of the gate on fire in each of the first two games, putting the Pacers in early holes. Now, the Hawks will have the backing of their home fans to help with their already sky-high confidence after winning game one.
Pacers not the same team anymore
Rumors have been flying that head coach Frank Vogel is coaching for his job in this series. Other rumors have swirled that Evan Turner and Lance Stephenson fought during the team’s final practice prior to game one. It has been far from fun for the Pacers ever since they acquired Turner from the Sixers at the trade deadline this year. The Pacers will try to regain their first-half form that saw them jump out to an incredible record when they take the court tonight in Atlanta.
We use the odds found at TopBet.eu for tonight’s NBA contest between Atlanta and Indiana. Even though Indiana is road chalk to win this game, we are going to take the host Hawks with the +120 money line as they take a 2-1 series advantage over the top-seeded team in the East.
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza.
Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race.
Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."