Hawks Struggling to Find Their Footing as Cavaliers Look to Build Momentum
Hawks vs. Cavaliers: January 2025 Game
On Thursday night, the Atlanta Hawks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for an exciting interconference matchup. Both teams are aiming to improve their playoff standing, with the Cavaliers looking to stay in the upper ranks of the Eastern Conference, while the Hawks are desperate to reverse a recent slide. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of this key contest, featuring insights, key stats, and predictions.
Hawks Struggling to Find Their Footing
The Atlanta Hawks (22-25, 20-27 ATS) are currently in a rough patch, having dropped six consecutive games. Their most recent loss, a 100-96 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, showcased the Hawks’ offensive struggles. Despite strong efforts from their star point guard, Trae Young, who averages 22.7 points and 11.4 assists per game, Atlanta has failed to break the 100-point mark in three straight contests. In their loss to the Rockets, the Hawks shot a dismal 40% from the field, including a woeful 23.4% from three-point range. Atlanta’s 18 turnovers resulted in 23 points for Houston, further highlighting the team’s struggles.
Offensively, the Hawks rank 11th in the league in points per game (115.3), but they’ve had trouble with efficiency, ranking 25th in three-point shooting (34.3%). Their defense is also a concern, as they allow the second-most points per game in the league (118.1), which has been a significant factor in their downturn. Opponents are shooting 47.6% from the field against Atlanta, ranking 25th in the league. The Hawks will need a better all-around effort, especially in limiting turnovers and improving their defense, to compete against a high-powered Cleveland offense.
Cleveland Cavaliers Looking to Build Momentum
The Cleveland Cavaliers (37-9, 30-16 ATS) come into Thursday’s game after a dominant 110-91 win over the Detroit Pistons earlier this week. The Cavaliers bounced back from a few recent losses with an impressive performance, winning the rebounding battle by a margin of +8 and holding the Pistons to just 38% shooting. While Cleveland struggled with their own shooting from distance, they capitalized on their efficiency at the free-throw line, converting 18 of 23 attempts.
Cleveland’s offense is firing on all cylinders, ranking second in the league in points per game (121.8) and shooting a league-leading 49.5% from the field. The Cavaliers are also first in three-point shooting at 39.5%, making them a difficult team to defend. On the defensive side, Cleveland is solid, allowing 112.1 points per game (12th in the league) while limiting opponents to 46% shooting.
Donovan Mitchell continues to be the Cavaliers’ primary scorer, averaging 23.7 points per game. Darius Garland, with 21.7 points and 6.8 assists per game, provides a dynamic backcourt alongside Mitchell. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen dominate the paint, contributing with both scoring and rebounding. With this balanced attack, Cleveland has the tools to exploit Atlanta’s defensive weaknesses.
Conclusion
Cleveland enters this game as the clear favorite. With a potent offense that ranks among the league’s best and a defense that has been solid enough to hold teams in check, the Cavaliers have the upper hand over an Atlanta team that is struggling to find consistency. The Hawks have been inefficient on both ends of the floor, and their recent form makes them vulnerable to a Cavaliers team that can exploit those weaknesses.
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