Atlanta at Portland

It has been fun watching this Atlanta team begin to come of age the past couple of seasons. It has been over a decade since the Hawks completed a regular season with a winning record on the road. This year they have appeared to finally grown into their potential, and carry a 10-6 road mark into this contest. The difference is defense. The Hawks have played seven teams with a winning record on the road, and have held them to an average of less than 90 points per game. It has been a disappointing start to the season for Portland, hovering around the .500 mark. The defense held the Clippers offense to 71 points in their last game, but it still wasn't enough to get the win as the offense struggled to just 71 points. Offense has been a Blazers’ problem, especially against winning teams, leading to a 5-1 UNDER mark in their last six. The Hawks’ resolve on the defensive end of the floor has led to a 17-5 UNDER mark in their last 22 on the road vs. a team with a greater than .600 home winning percentage. This series has been low and tight, with five of the last six failing to reach the total. Play the UNDER.