Lakers vs Hawks Prediction 4 January 2025

🔊 Will the "Lakers" be able to stop the wild offense of the visitors? The NBA regular season will feature a matchup between the Lakers and Atlanta. The visitors strive to play fast, but LeBron and company are capable of putting the opponent's attack in an uncomfortable position. It is predicted that the hosts will manage to slow down the pace, which will put a premium on the ability to defend well. The spectators at the “Crypto.com Arena” have the right to expect maximum dedication from their favorites.

📊 HEAD-TO-HEAD

The last clash between the teams was a high-scoring affair: Atlanta won with a score of 134:132. In 7 consecutive head-to-head games, the opponents have scored at least 240 points combined.

🟣 LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The California team has started to show decent basketball, which has landed them in sixth place in the Western Conference (57.6% win rate). Last night, they managed to handle the Blazers (114:106). It should be noted that the "Lakers" played without Davis, who is also questionable for the upcoming game due to an ankle injury. The Lakers' offense has not been impressive: averaging 112 points per game. Against the fast-paced Hawks, there will be noticeably more opportunities for shots, but their three-point shooting is disappointing: only 35% (19th in the NBA). It is quite likely that the hosts will try to slow down the pace. In an open game, potentially without "The Brow," it is unlikely they will come out victorious from a shootout. Especially since the increased load on LeBron does not allow the hosts to push the pace too much.

🔴 ATLANTA HAWKS

The Atlanta players are fifth in the NBA in points scored (117.9). But this only allows them to be in 7th place in the East: the key reason for such low positions is defense. The 27th defense in the league has an unexpected chance to transform against the Lakers. Yes, Young will always be a weak spot on their side - hiding him can sometimes be very difficult. But since the Lakers will reduce speeds, the anthropometry of other players might come in handy: Daniels, Rissacher, and Okongwu can defend well. Capela under the basket should also be successful - especially in Davis's absence. The recent game against Denver (120:139) clearly showed that engaging in a thoughtless shootout with experienced opponents is unwise. Even despite 4 wins in the last 5 games. Additionally, the offensive potential is significantly reduced by the potential absence of Johnson and Bogdanovic.

📝 EDITOR'S PREDICTION

In this matchup, bookmakers cannot identify a clear favorite. The Lakers are playing at home, which might give them a slight edge. However, the main task for the hosts will be to slow down the pace - Atlanta might agree to such a development. Outscoring the Lakers is theoretically possible, but in individual duels, the hosts are capable of defending well. Moreover, LeBron and Reaves are not known for quick plays. If the "Hawks" fail to get off a quick shot, Young often shoots at the buzzer as well. We believe that the outcome is unpredictable - much will be decided at the very end. Under such circumstances, a reasonable choice seems to be a bet on total under 238.5 points.