Los Angeles Lakers vs Atlanta Hawks prediction

Recent results

• Los Angeles Lakers: 4 wins from the last 5, average margin +5.8 points (W 124–118 v POR, W 116–103 @ SAC, W 138–117 v MIA, W 131–125 v TOR, L 95–112 @ GS).
• Atlanta Hawks: 4 wins from the last 5, average margin +1.4 points (W 124–121 v BKN, W 139–132 v WSH, W 120–105 @ WSH, W 108–104 @ IND, L 99–121 @ NO).

This is the first meeting between these teams this season. Results are taken from final scores, most recent first.

Preview

Los Angeles Lakers are our pick on the road against the Atlanta Hawks. The model gives them a 50% chance of winning, which makes this game close to a coin flip (under 55%).

On the rosters we expect, Los Angeles Lakers rate as the stronger team (99.4 to 92.0 on our team-strength rating), and that is the main reason for the pick.

Recent form: Los Angeles Lakers have been winning by 4.5 points a game, while Atlanta Hawks have been winning by 1.3 points a game.

Schedule: Los Angeles Lakers are on the second night of a back-to-back, which the model takes into account.

Injuries: neither team has a regular player on the injury report at the time of writing.

Season so far: Los Angeles Lakers are 8–2 and Atlanta Hawks are 7–4.

What could change the pick: late injury news. We re-check every 15 minutes until game time, then the pick is frozen and stays on our public record, win or lose.