Hornets vs. Hawks Play-In Prediction, Best Bets & Prop Picks

Last season, the Charlotte Hornets were the #10 seed in the Eastern Conference and were eliminated from the NBA Play-In Tournament at the first hurdle, as they allowed 144 points in a blowout loss to the Indiana Pacers.

The Hornets are in the same position this time around, but they will be hoping for a different outcome when they take on the ninth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in tonight’s early play-in matchup.

Both the Hawks and Hornets finished at 43-39 this season and split their four-game season series, but the Hawks earned the ninth seed and the chance to host this matchup because of a superior record against fellow Southeast Division opponents.

Home teams have dominated the NBA Play-In Tournament thus far in its existence, but Charlotte posted a winning record on the road in the regular season.

Can LaMelo Ball and the Hornets set up a winner-take-all (or the #8 seed in the East, at least) showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night? Or will Trae Young and the Hawks book a ticket to Cleveland?

Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament Game Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Game Matchup: Charlotte Hornets (43-39, 10th seed in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (43-39, 9th seed in the Western Conference)
• Venue & Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• How to Watch the Hornets vs. Hawks Play-In Game: ESPN

Hornets vs. Hawks Betting Odds

BetOnline Sportsbook

• Spread: Charlotte Hornets +5 (-105), Atlanta Hawks -5 (-115)
• Total: OVER 235 (-110), UNDER 235 (-110)
• Moneyline: Charlotte Hornets +180, Atlanta Hawks -215

Bovada Sportsbook

• Spread: Charlotte Hornets +5.5 (-110), Atlanta Hawks -5.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 235.5 (-110), UNDER 235.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Charlotte Hornets +180, Atlanta Hawks -220

BetUS

• Spread: Charlotte Hornets +5.5 (-114), Atlanta Hawks -5.5 (-107)
• Total: OVER 235.5 (-110), UNDER 235.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Charlotte Hornets +170, Atlanta Hawks -210

Hawks, Hornets Peaking as Play-In Tournament Arrives

At this time of year, how things unfolded in the regular season only matters so much. If you are in the playoffs or the play-in, you have a chance for extra basketball, and that is what is important.

That said, it doesn’t hurt to be playing well at the business end of the season, and both Atlanta and Charlotte are as they head into tonight’s matchup.

After being one of the NBA’s hottest teams over the second half of last season and making a surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals, the Hawks were expected to have a successful campaign this season.

That didn’t quite come to pass, as they were eight games under .500 just over halfway through the season. Even with nine games left in the regular season, Atlanta was still under .500. But they got going in late March and finished with seven wins in their final nine games, with their only losses coming at Toronto and Miami.

Similarly, the Hornets were expected to have a strong season. Ball won NBA Rookie of the Year honors, and the Hornets won 33 games, 10 more than in the 2019-20 season, and reached the play-in.

But after being a season-high six games over .500 at the 50-game mark this season, Charlotte’s form hit the skids between late January and early March.

After losing 13 of 17 games, the Hornets were 32-35 with 15 games remaining. But like the Hawks, they woke up at just the right time, going 11-4 to close out the regular season with just the franchise’s second winning record since reclaiming the “Hornets” name in 2014.

If things go according to form, the Hawks will move on, and the Hornets will see their season end at the same juncture as last season.

2021-22 NBA Season Hornets vs. Hawks Head-to-Head Results

• November 25 in Atlanta: Hawks 115, Hornets 105
• December 5 in Atlanta: Hornets 130, Hawks 127
• January 23 in Charlotte: Hawks 113, Hornets 91
• March 16 in Charlotte: Hornets 116, Hawks 106

To date, NBA Play-In Tournament results are heavily in favor of home teams. With last night’s Cavs vs. Nets and Clippers vs. Timberwolves matchups both went the way of the home team, home teams are now 7-1 SU in play-in games.

But the Hornets have a winning road record this season, and they make the trip to Atlanta having won six of their last eight road games to end the regular season.

Hornets vs. Hawks Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction: Hawks 122, Hornets 116 (Best Bets: Hawks -5.5 & OVER 235.5)

While the Hornets do indeed have a winning road record this season, which includes a win in Atlanta, play-in results thus far have shown that it will take a pretty extraordinary effort for the road team to win. Just last night, the Clippers were up by 10 in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves but were outscored 26-11 the rest of the way as Minnesota clinched the West’s #7 seed.

So, it is hard to picture things playing out differently in this matchup. The Hawks have been fantastic at home over the past couple of months, going 11-1 in their last 12 games at State Farm Arena. Their only loss was to the New Orleans Pelicans on March 20, and the only win by fewer than six points was a 131-128 win over the Indiana Pacers on March 13.

Best Prop Bet for Hornets vs. Hawks

Trae Young OVER 43.5 Points + Assists (-102 at BetOnline Sportsbook)

We all know by now how much Young loves the big moments, and a Hawks win a big game for Young often go hand in hand. In wins this season, he has averaged 31.2 PPG and 9.4 APG, but in losses, he has averaged 25.2 PPG and 10.0 APG.

His shooting percentages are also significantly higher in wins than in losses:

• Field Goal Percentage in Wins: 49.8%
• Field Goal Percentage in Losses: 41.9%
• Three-Point Field Goal Percentage in Wins: 43.0%
• Three-Point Field Goal Percentage in Losses: 32.0%

He even shoots free throws better in wins (91.2 percent) than in losses (89.4 percent). So, being that the Hawks are the pick here, this pick goes hand in hand.

Young averages only 3.7 rebounds per game–and there’s not a major difference in that area in wins (3.9 RPG) and losses (3.6 RPG) –so it is better here to go for the points + assists total than the points + rebounds + assists total, which currently sits at 47.5.