La Clippers vs Atlanta Hawks Picks and Predictions January 4th 2025

LA Clippers vs Atlanta Hawks January 4th 2025

In a non-conference matchup, the Hawks (18-17) travel to take on the Clippers (19-15) at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The Hawks are currently on a two-game losing streak and are 7th in the Eastern Conference, while the Clippers are also on a two-game losing streak and are 7th in the Western Conference.

Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 ET and can be seen on NBA TV. The Clippers are favored by 5.5 points and -217 on the moneyline, while the Hawks are +180 on the moneyline. The over/under line for this game is set at 228.5 points.

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Hawks vs. Clippers Key Information

The Hawks fell to 18-17 on the season after a 119-102 road loss to the Lakers on Friday. Atlanta, who entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs, couldn’t cover the spread, and the total score of 221 points was well below the 234.5 O/U line.

Atlanta trailed 31-28 after the 1st quarter and 65-57 at halftime. They were down 96-86 going into the 4th, but a 23-16 final quarter in favor of the Lakers sealed the game.

In their 119-102 loss to the Lakers, the Hawks struggled offensively, shooting just 41% from the field and hitting only 6 three-pointers at a 17.6% clip. Trae Young led the way with 33 points and 9 assists, scoring 14 points in the 3rd quarter and adding 10 more in the 4th.

Jalen Johnson contributed 19 points, with 7 coming in both the 1st and 2nd quarters. Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Dyson Daniels chipped in 13 points, including 5 in the opening period.

Defensively, the Hawks struggled against the Lakers, giving up 119 points on 48% shooting. Atlanta allowed 31 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters and 34 in the 2nd. They tightened up in the 4th, holding the Lakers to 23 points.

The Hawks had a tough time defending the three, as the Lakers hit 13 threes at a 43% clip. Atlanta also sent the Lakers to the line 25 times, where they made 20 free throws. The Hawks finished with 10 steals and 3 blocks.

The Clippers fell to 19-15 on the season after a 116-98 road loss to the Thunder on Thursday. Los Angeles entered the game as +12 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 214 points narrowly missed the over/under line of 214.5.

After leading 30-22 at the end of the 1st quarter, the Clippers were outscored 26-22 in the 2nd and 42-20 in the 3rd. They entered the 4th quarter down 90-72 and played the Thunder evenly in the final period, with both teams scoring 26 points.

In their 116-98 loss to the Thunder, the Clippers’ offense struggled, with Amir Coffey leading the way, hitting 6 threes at a 75% clip and finishing with 26 points. Mo Bamba contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 83.3% from the field.

The Clippers made just 11 threes, shooting 34.4% from deep, both below their averages. Overall, they shot 46.9% from the field.

Defensively, the Clippers struggled in the 3rd quarter, giving up 42 points, which contributed to their 116-98 loss to the Thunder. They allowed 22 points in the 1st quarter and 26 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters.

Overall, the Clippers allowed the Thunder to shoot 50% from the field, including 36% from three-point range with 14 threes. The Thunder also went 16/20 from the free-throw line. The Clippers recorded 35 defensive rebounds, allowing 4 offensive boards, and added 6 steals and 1 block.

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +5.5, the Hawks is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 228.5 and given that our model is projecting 246 points between the teams, we like the over.

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Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard in Line to Make Season Debut vs. Hawks

The Los Angeles Clippers are set to welcome Kawhi Leonard back to the lineup for the first time this season when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night in Inglewood, Calif. ESPN reported that Leonard, upgraded to questionable on Friday, is expected to make his highly anticipated season debut.

Leonard Returns After Long Absence

Leonard, 33, has dealt with ongoing knee issues, which resurfaced late last season and caused him to miss a chance to represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics. Despite averaging 23.7 points and 6.1 rebounds over 68 games last season, Leonard missed the final eight regular-season games and played just two games in the Clippers’ first-round playoff exit against the Dallas Mavericks.

The two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star aims to help stabilize a Clippers squad currently navigating an uneven start to the season. His presence will mark the first time this season that Los Angeles fields its full roster.

Additional Boosts for the Clippers

Terance Mann is also expected to return after missing 12 games due to a fractured finger. Mann has been a reliable contributor, averaging 6.3 points over 23 games, including 11 starts. James Harden, who missed Thursday’s 116-98 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to right groin soreness, is also slated to return.

The Clippers, who have dropped back-to-back games, could use the reinforcements. In Thursday’s loss, Ivica Zubac nearly missed the game due to an undisclosed injury but managed to play. Meanwhile, leading scorer Norman Powell (23.6 points per game) struggled, shooting 1 of 11 from the field and committing six turnovers.

“They were blitzing him a little bit to make the pass so we can get open shots,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Powell’s performance. “He was due for one of these games… It was a tough night for him shooting the basketball.”

The Clippers have performed well at home, winning 11 of their last 13 games in their new building. Saturday’s matchup is their only home game in a six-game stretch.

Hawks Looking to Regain Momentum

The Hawks will be playing their second game in Los Angeles in as many nights following a 119-102 loss to the Lakers on Friday. Trae Young scored 33 points in the defeat, while Jalen Johnson added 19 in his return from a sore shoulder.

Atlanta has followed a four-game winning streak with two consecutive losses and holds a 1-2 record to start a six-game road trip. Stops in Utah and Phoenix remain ahead.

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Young, averaging 22.6 points per game this season, is scoring at his lowest clip since his rookie year. However, he has evolved in other areas, embracing growth beyond scoring. He has scored 30 or more points in three consecutive games and nine times this season.

“It’s unique when you have a guy at a certain point of their career, when they’ve had a tremendous amount of success individually, to have a thirst for continuing to get better,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “I appreciate that, his teammates appreciate it, and it’s the right thing. He’s embraced it, and I’m glad to see it.”

Series Outlook

Saturday’s game will mark the first of two meetings between the Clippers and Hawks this season, with the rematch scheduled for March 14 in Atlanta. Both teams will look to use this clash as an opportunity to build momentum for the weeks ahead.