854 ATLANTA HAWKS -5.0 vs 853 IND
Analysis:
These teams are meeting for the third time since the end of December. Indiana won the first two meetings, both of which were at home. Both are in the middle of a tightly bunched field contending for the third through eighth Playoff seeds in the East. Atlanta is in a better scheduling situation as the Pacers have a game on Saturday and the Hawks next play on Sunday. The Hawks had been slumping entering this week, having gone 1-5 both SU and ATS befopre winning and covering each of their last 2 games, at home vs Dallas and on Wednesday at Philadelphia. The Pacers had also been in a slump before winning 3 of their last 4. This game could have implications come the Playoffs seedings and with the Hawks having already lost twice to the Pacers they should place a greater emphasis than usual on this third meeting. They've won 4 of 5 and 8 of 10 at home (6-3-1 ATS) whereas Indiana is just 5-12 SU, 5-11-1 ATS on the road since December which followed their strong road start to the season during which they were 6-3 SU, 7-2 ATS away from home.