untitled-design-2021-01-11t182420-268.jpg
Getty Images

Eastern Conference teams battling for playoff positioning meet up on Saturday evening when the Atlanta Hawks (11-14) host the Indiana Pacers (13-13). Indiana broke a four-game losing streak by knocking off the Pistons 111-95 on Thursday. Atlanta has dropped two straight and five of its last six. This is the first meeting of the season between the teams. 

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena. William Hill Sportsbook lists Indiana as a 1.5-point road favorite, while the total is set at 224.5, down 1.5 points from the opening Hawks vs. Pacers odds. Before finalizing any Pacers vs. Hawks picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. Dating back to last season, it enters Week 8 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 79-46 roll on top-rated picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Hawks vs. Pacers. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Pacers vs. Hawks:

  • Hawks vs. Pacers spread: Pacers -1.5
  • Hawks vs. Pacers over-under: 224.5 points
  • Hawks vs. Pacers money line: Pacers -120; Hawks +100

What you need to know about the Hawks

Atlanta currently sits in 10th in the tightly-packed Eastern Conference standings. Only 6.5 games separate the No. 1 seed and the No. 10 seed, however, so Atlanta has a chance to gain ground quickly. Trae Young leads the team with 26.5 points and 9.2 assists per game. John Collins is the second-leading scorer at 18.1 points per game, while Clint Capela leads the way with 14 rebounds per game.

The Hawks have been a relatively good bet this season, going 13-12 against the spread. But they have't fared as well at home, going 6-8 ATS. They're also 2-3 ATS as home underdogs and 1-3 ATS on the second game of a back-to-back, which is the scenario for Atlanta on Saturday after they lost to the Spurs on Friday. Rajon Rondo (back) will miss this game, while Cam Reddish (Achilles) is listed as probable. 

What you need to know about the Pacers

Indiana zoomed past the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, 111-95. Domantas Sabonis had 26 points and eight assists along with eight rebounds. The Pacers outscored the Pistons 59-43 in the second half. The Pacers had lost six of seven before playing the Pistons. 

Indiana shot 51.2 percent from the field against Detroit. The Pacers have won six of seven games in which they shot 50 percent or better on field goals. Sabonis averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds in his three games vs. the Hawks last season. 

How to make Pacers vs. Hawks picks

The model has simulated Hawks vs. Pacers 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning under on the total, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Pacers vs. Hawks? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pacers vs. Hawks spread to jump on Friday, all from the model that is on an incredible 79-46 roll.