Atlanta at Cleveland

What a brutal stretch for a short-handed Atlanta team, playing their seventh road game over the last eight games here. That explains a 2-4 straight-up run the last six contests, even losing as a favorite at Detroit. They take on a hungry young Cleveland team that has overachieved and is not far behind the Knicks and Bucks for the last playoffs slot in the East. The Cavaliers are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games as an underdog of +0.5 to +4.5 and are a good bounce-back team defensively, 4-1 ATS in their last five when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game. They come off a loss at Milwaukee, but are still 3-2 SU/ATS their last five games, and this is their last home game before a three-game trip, so expect a big effort for the home fans. Play the Cavaliers. I also see plenty of defense in this one. The Hawks are 10-4 to the UNDER in their last 14 road games and No. 5 in the NBA in points allowed. Atlanta is off a win and the Hawks are 25-9-1 UNDER the total in their last 35 games following a win, plus the UNDER is 19-7 in the Hawks' last 26 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. The UNDER is 17-5 in the Cavaliers’ last 22 games as a home underdog, and 24-9 UNDER the total in their last 33 games as an underdog of +0.5 to +4.5. When these teams meet, the UNDER is 5-1 in the last six meetings. Play the Hawks/Cavaliers UNDER.