Atlanta Hawks vs Dallas Mavericks Picks and Predictions November 25th 2024

Well-Rested Hawks Aim to Contain Mavericks

The Atlanta Hawks are set to rebound on Monday evening as they host the Dallas Mavericks, looking to make up for a high-scoring defeat from their last encounter in Atlanta.

In the previous matchup on Jan. 26 last year, Luka Doncic dazzled with 73 points, propelling Dallas to a dramatic 148-143 triumph. This time, however, the Mavericks will be missing their superstar, as Doncic is sidelined with a wrist injury he sustained during last Tuesday’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Fortunately, the injury is expected to keep Doncic out for a brief period.

Mavericks Adapt Without Doncic

Monday’s game marks the end of a three-city road trip for the Mavericks, who had their four-game winning streak halted with a 123-118 overtime defeat to the Miami Heat on Sunday. Dallas held a two-point advantage late in regulation before Jimmy Butler’s dunk with just 4.1 seconds remaining sent the match into overtime, where the Heat kept the Mavericks scoreless for the last 3:21.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd highlighted the necessity of adjusting without Doncic, stating,

“You never know who might face foul trouble or an injury. The bench has performed positively since Luka’s absence, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case tonight. You just can’t predict who will play, and this is an invaluable lesson for us all.”

Kyrie Irving stepped up in Doncic’s place, leading the team with 27 points on Sunday. Irving is averaging 24.1 points per game, ranking second behind Doncic’s 28.1 ppg, which sits eighth in the NBA.

Defensive Worries for the Hawks

The Hawks haven’t played since Friday, when they experienced a 136-122 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Despite each scoring 25 points, Trae Young and Jalen Johnson couldn’t contain Chicago’s attack, allowing the Bulls to connect on 57 percent of their shots from the field, hit 44.2 percent from three-point range, and achieve a near-perfect 19 of 21 from the free-throw line.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder addressed the team’s defensive issues, saying,

“When you face a team that achieves 50-40-90, those are Hall of Fame figures. That’s not to say we can’t improve. We could have contested better, and we could have limited their penetration more. I believe that was a critical aspect of the game, along with our struggles to score at times.”

The Hawks rank third from the bottom in the NBA for points allowed, conceding 120.5 per game. They will need to solidify their defense to prevent losing three straight games for the first time since late October.

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Key Players and Matchup Insight

Trae Young leads Atlanta with 22.1 points and an NBA-leading 11.7 assists per game. Jalen Johnson has developed as a reliable contributor, averaging 19.4 points and a team-high 10.4 rebounds per game. Defensive ace Dyson Daniels adds energy with an impressive 3.2 steals per game.

In Doncic’s absence, the Mavericks will heavily depend on Irving’s scoring and leadership, while players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Grant Williams will be crucial in stepping up on both sides of the court.

With added rest and the advantage of home-court, the Hawks will strive to take advantage of a Mavericks squad playing the second half of a back-to-back. Nevertheless, Atlanta’s defensive weaknesses could allow Dallas the opportunity to snatch a win, even in the absence of their star player.