Eastern Conference foes meet in the earliest tip on the Friday NBA schedule when the Atlanta Hawks (22-29) travel to take on the Philadelphia 76ers (30-20). The Sixers currently occupy the No. 5 spot in the East, while Atlanta is No. 10 and would have the final play-in spot if the season ended today. Both sides are dealing with some notable injuries as Philadelphia is without Joel Embiid (knee), while Tyrese Maxey (illness) is questionable. Atlanta is without Clint Capela (adductor), while Dejounte Murray (back) is questionable. New Sixers trade acquisitions Buddy Hield and Cameron Payne are available to play.
Tipoff at Wells Fargo Center is at 7 p.m. ET. The latest 76ers vs. Hawks odds via SportsLine consensus list Atlanta as the 3-point road favorite. The over/under is 247, up 7.5 points from the opening line. Before making any Hawks vs. 76ers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 16 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 51-33 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $1,700. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Sixers vs. Hawks. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Hawks vs. Sixers:
- Hawks vs. 76ers spread: Hawks -3
- Hawks vs. 76ers over/under: 247 points
- Hawks vs. 76ers money line: Hawks -149, 76ers +126
- ATL: The Hawks are 8-16 against the spread in road games
- PHI: The 76ers are 16-10 against the spread home games
- Hawks vs. 76ers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Hawks can cover
The Sixers will be without Embiid for at least another month, and they haven't found their footing yet in his absence. Overall, the Sixers have lost seven of their last eight games in a span that dates to before the injury. Philadelphia has also covered just once since Jan. 19.
In a game with a lengthy injury list, Atlanta has an edge in having Trae Young available. He's coming off a poor performance at Boston, but earlier this month he had back-to-back games where he hit 7 of 11 3-pointers in both and cleared 30 points in each. For the season, he ranks ninth in the NBA in scoring at 27.1 point per game and second in assists at 10.9 per game. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the 76ers can cover
Philadelphia has a very favorable offensive matchup against Atlanta. The 76ers scored 1.24 points per possession in the first three games against the Hawks this season, averaging 32.7 free throw attempts per game and converting more than 38% of 3-point attempts. For the season, Philadelphia is in the top six in offensive efficiency, putting up 1.187 points per possession. The 76ers lead the NBA in turnover rate (12.0%), free throw creation (26.9 attempts per game), and free throw accuracy (83.3%), with top-eight marks in fast break points (16.4 per game), points in the paint (52.5 per game) and second-chance points (15.1 per game).
Philadelphia is also positioned to take advantage of Atlanta's defensive weaknesses. The Hawks are allowing 1.20 points per possession this season, and Atlanta lands in the bottom three of the NBA in several defensive categories. That includes opponent field goal percentage, opponent 2-point percentage, opponent 3-point percentage, assists allowed, fast break points allowed and points in the paint allowed. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Hawks vs. 76ers picks
The model has simulated Sixers vs. Hawks 10,000 times and is leaning Under on the total, projecting 241 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins 76ers vs. Hawks, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 51-33 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
