Atlanta Hawks - Detroit Pistons predictions and free betting tips [03/04/2024]

The Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are set to meet on Thursday at the State Farm Arena.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have been in fine form, with 5 wins in their last six matches, and are looking to continue this successful streak after triumphing over the Chicago Bulls with a score of 113:101. Significant contributions came from Bogdan Bogdanovic, with 20 points and 6 assists, Vit Krejci with 18 points, and Dejounte Murray with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. The Hawks team demonstrated high efficiency, achieving 50% of their shots from the field and 19 out of 40 from the three-point line, overcoming an early 11-point deficit and establishing a 17-point advantage, ultimately resulting in a confident win, despite the late attempt from the Bulls to make a comeback.

Standing at the 10th spot in the Eastern conference with an overall statistic of 35-40, Atlanta actively fights for a playoff seed and will face the Detroit Pistons this week. The Hawks are intent on catching up with the 9th-placed Chicago Bulls, who enjoy an advantage in their head-to-head meetings, therefore requiring Atlanta to at least notch up one more victory than Chicago by the end of the regular season to secure a more favourable position ahead of the NBA tournament. The recent crucial victory over the Bulls underlined the significance of every game in this final stage of the season.

The team also welcomes the return of Jalen Johnson and Coby Buffkin after injury layoffs. Particularly notable is Dejounte Murray, who, in the absence of Trae Young, has taken more responsibility for the game and was named the Eastern Conference player of the week. Despite the unavailability of Young and Onyeka Okongwu, Head Coach Quin Snyder emphasised the importance of team spirit and players' readiness to give their all for the team.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are going through a tough period, having lost 9 out of their last 10 matches, and are seeking an opportunity to recoup after their recent defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies with a score of 108:110. The team, being at the bottom of the Eastern conference with a record of 13-62, met significant challenges highlighted in the game against the Grizzlies. Cade Cunningham was key in this match, scoring 36 points and 8 assists, boasting a high efficiency with 13 out of 22 successful three-pointers. Jaden Ivey and Chimezie Metu also significantly contributed to the game, adding 20 and 17 points respectively.

Despite an efficient start, where Pistons managed to hold off the Grizzlies' attacks, scoring just 44 points in the first half and acquiring a 15-point advantage, the second half turned out to be a disappointment. Detroit couldn't maintain its defensive efficiency, allowing Memphis to take the initiative and score 66 points versus their 51 in the second half. The third quarter proved to be particularly tough with the Grizzlies scoring 41 points.

Head Coach Monty Williams expressed confidence in Cunningham's ability to lead the team to success in the future, underscoring his importance to Detroit. Centre Jalen Duren, who suffered an injury early in the Memphis game, trained the next day, giving hope for an early return in time for the court. The upcoming match against the Hawks is a significant challenge for the Pistons, particularly considering their recent defeats in encounters with this opponent, in which the Hawks have extended their winning streak against Detroit to six games.

Atlanta Hawks - Detroit Pistons match prediction

The Detroit Pistons are closely monitoring the fitness of Marcus Usoma Sasser and Cade Cunningham, whose status is yet to be determined, while the Atlanta Hawks continue to play without Onyeka Okongwu and Trae Young. Should Cunningham play, the Pistons will receive a significant boost that could pose challenges for the opposition. However, if Detroit is able to field a fully fit team, I'd still place my bet on a motivated Atlanta, a team on the rise that has good chances of cementing success by securing another home triumph.