Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Atlanta Hawks return home after a tough road trip to Boston and New York, but they're not expecting an easy ride just yet. Their opponents are the Detroit Pistons, who have won seven of their last ten away games.
Atlanta Hawks
After a series of setbacks at the start of January, the Hawks have found their form, winning four of their last six games. Their offence has started to deliver strong numbers. Over the past ten games, Trae Young has been phenomenal, averaging 28.9 points and 10 assists. However, no matter how dazzling the Hawks' attack might be, their defence remains one of the worst in the league, conceding an average of 119 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot 47.5% with nearly 92 attempts per game.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons can't boast about their defence either. Ranked only 16th in the league for reliability, they concede over 113 points per game, allowing opponents to shoot at 46.8%. However, all this tends to be overshadowed when their offence, led by Cade Cunningham, comes alive. In the last ten games, the point guard has averaged 26.4 points and 8.4 assists in 34 minutes on the court. He's well-supported by Jalen Duren, the young centre who has recorded at least 15 points and 10 rebounds in his last three games.
Atlanta Hawks vs Detroit Pistons Prediction
Both teams favour an offensive style of basketball. Therefore, it's no surprise that in four of their last five head-to-head matchups, they have collectively scored at least 236 points. This encounter is unlikely to be any different, so we confidently back the total over.
