by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Apr 08, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: FTX Arena, Miami, FL
Where to watch: Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports Southeast-Atlanta
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Heat -2.5
BetMGM: Heat -2.5
Caesars: Heat -2.5
Season record
Hawks: 42-38
Heat: 52-28
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Hawks - Heat preview and analysis
Hawks analysis
The lead and understudy of the Southeast division are going head to head this Friday, April 8 in Miami. With the Miami Heat clinching the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs on Thursday, this game seems like just a formality for them. So are they still gonna bring it? Or are they just gonna let Atlanta “win”.
The Atlanta Hawks are ninth in the Eastern Conference. They’re bound for the play-in tournament with two games left in the regular season, both road games. The Hawks will be flying down to Miami this Friday, after a win in Atlanta this past Wednesday, April 6.
Trae Young scored 30 points against the Washington Wizards. Atlanta led 76-70 with about six minutes remaining in the third quarter before Young unleashed a scoring spree that extended the lead. He scored 16 of Atlanta's final 18 points in the period, stretching the advantage to 95-83.
“He kind of spearheaded that run in the third,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said “That’s kind of where the game got away from us a bit.”
Young hit two 3-pointers and made all six of his free throws during that hot stretch. The game ended with the Atlanta Hawks beating the Washington Wizards 118-103.
“I just wanted to be more aggressive,” Young said. “I saw that Kristaps was more in drop coverage. I told our big men to set the screen. ... I knew I was going to be able to hit that 3. I hit a couple of them.”
The Hawks finished 27-14 at home, including a 19-3 mark since Jan. 17. They’re hoping to have another home game in the postseason.
“I think we all kind of know what the deal is,” Young said. “We know what we need to do to take care of business.”
Atlanta will be finishing off the season with the game in Miami this Friday, and a game in Houston on Sunday.
Heat analysis
The Miami Heat have already secured their place in the Eastern conference final, but let’s talk about how good they are anyways.
Miami had the pleasure of hosting Charlotte this past Tuesday, April 5, in the only way they knew how. By keeping them on their toes all the way until the end. Finishing the game with a final score of 144-115.
Tyler Herro scored 35 points, Jimmy Butler added 27, Bam Adebayo contributed 22, and Duncan Robinson broke out of his scoring block with 21 points for the Miami Heat.
"Role and involvement and everything has looked different night to night," said Robinson, now on Miami's second unit. "That's what you get when you play on a good team with a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things. For me, it's just about wrapping my mind around that."
Ahead 104-97 after three periods, the Heat began the fourth quarter on a 13-2 spurt. Miami finished 23 of 42 from the 3-point range. Herro was 8 of 14 from behind the arc and tied Dwyane Wade's single-game record for points by a Heat reserve.
"I have to give credit to my teammates. They trust me to have the ball in my hands and let me be myself," Herro said. "I couldn't do it without them. Another good win for us and just getting ready for the playoffs."
With Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra missing his second straight game, Miami assistant Chris Quinn is running the team.
"The ball was moving, guys were helping each other get shots," Quinn said. "It really was a team effort offensively."
Prediction
Both teams definitely bring a lot to the table. Just looking at wins and losses, they seem pretty similar. Though in the grand scheme of things, it’s fairly obvious that Miami holds the upper hand. But with the Heat already clinching the No. 1 seed and Trae Young leading the charge for the Hawks, I see this being Atlanta’s game. I just hope Miami still brings “the heat” and doesn’t fizzle out just because they’ve done their job for the regular season. Heat by 12
Betting trends
Hawks are 3-12 ATS this season and 27-48 the last three seasons as an underdog between 3.5 and 9.5 points.
Hawks are 6-17 ATS as a road dog this season.
Hawks are 45-73 ATS on the road in the last three seasons.
Heat are 17-18 ATS as a home favorite this season.
Projected starting lineup
Hawks:
PG: Trae Young
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: De'Andre Hunter
PF: Danilo Gallinari
C: Clint Capela
Heat:
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Max Strus
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Duncan Robinson
C: Bam Adebayo
Key injuries
Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee, questionable), John Collins (finger and foot, questionable
Heat: P.J. Tucker (calf, out)
Statistical leaders
Hawks:
Points: Trae Young -- 28.3
Rebounds: Clint Capela -- 11.8
Assists: Trae Young -- 9.7
Heat:
Points: Jimmy Butler -- 21.4
Rebounds: Bam Adebayo -- 10.1
Assists: Kyle Lowry -- 7.6
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
