Trent Reinsmith
- What: Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks
- Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
- Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN, Bally Sports SE-ATL, NBC Sports Boston
Week 5 of the 2022-23 NBA season is upon us and while the 2022 NBA champion Golden State Warriors are struggling, the team they defeated in the NBA Finals, the 2022 Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics, have the best record in the NBA at 11-3. The Celtics are on the road tonight, Wednesday, November 16. Boston faces the Southeast Division-leading Atlanta Hawks at the State Farm Arena. The Hawks, who the Miami Heat eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs, sport a 9-5 record.
Before we dive into the betting breakdown for tonight’s NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks picks – November 16, 2022
| Teams |  |  |
| Boston Celtics | -135 | -129 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +115 | +106 |
Boston Celtics breakdown
The Boston Celtics began the 2023 NBA season with three straight wins. The team then stumbled, going 1-3 in their next four outings. However, Boston enters tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with a seven-game winning streak. Boston has not lost a game since November 2, when they fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers by a score of 114-113 in overtime. In their most recent outing, the Celtics downed the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 126-122 in Oklahoma. Boston is 5-2 in away games and 8-3 in Eastern Conference matchups.
Despite being without defensive standout Robert Williams III and off-season signing Danilo Gallinari, the Celtics are playing outstanding. That’s not surprising when the team’s biggest stars, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are delivering. Tatum leads the team in points (31.9), rebounds (7.4), blocks (1.4) and minutes (37.5). Brown is contributing 25.4 points per game on 36.8 minutes, while Smart leads the team in assists (7.1) and steals (1.1), while putting up 11.4 points on 32.7 minutes per game. It should be noted that Smart is suffering from ankle inflammation, but he is expected to play tonight.
Boston is the highest-scoring team in the league right now, averaging 120 points per game. However, the club scores fewer points in road games, averaging 115.9 when they are on the road. The Celtics are in the middle of the pack in scoring defense when they are playing away from TD Garden. The club allows an average of 112.9 points per game on the road.
Atlanta Hawks breakdown
The Atlanta Hawks have not been as consistent as the Boston Celtics in the opening weeks of the 2023 NBA season. Atlanta’s longest unbeaten run came earlier this month when they defeated the Knicks, Pelicans and Bucks in three straight games. Outside of that, Atlanta has two two-game winning streaks. The team is coming off a 121-106 victory over Milwaukee on Monday. That game took place on the road. Atlanta has a 5-2 home record and a 7-3 Eastern Conference record.
Trae Young is pacing the team in offense. The young star leads the Hawks in points (26.9) and assists (9.3) on 35.1 minutes of play per game. Dejounte Murray is playing the most minutes for Atlanta at 36.6 per game and scoring an average of 21.5 points with 7.8 assists, 6.4 rebounds and a team-high 2.1 steals. Clint Capela leads the Hawks in rebounds (11.9) and blocks (1.5).
The Hawks are one of those rare teams who score more on the road than at home. Atlanta is averaging 114 points per game at State Farm Arena. The club’s defense is better at home than on the road. Atlanta gives up an average of 110 points per game when playing in their building.
Our pick
With the run the Celtics are on, it’s hard to bet against them at home or on the road. The team is playing inspired basketball right now and Tatum is the third-highest-scoring player in the NBA. The Celtics look like they want to prove their trip to the NBA Finals last year was not a fluke. The best bet for tonight’s ESPN NBA game is for the Boston Celtics to beat the Atlanta Hawks.
Pick: Boston Celtics to beat the Atlanta Hawks.
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