Atlanta Hawks fans who like betting on NBA games just got more bad news, on top of the fact that they have to host the Cleveland Cavaliers. Starting center Dewayne Dedmon will miss three to six weeks with a left tibia stress reaction. Dedmon has, in all 20 games of the season, averaged 11.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 60.1% from the field. Additionally, center Mike Muscala is out with an ankle injury, and center Miles Plumlee played, after missing the previous 19 games, just nine minutes in a loss to the Raptors on Saturday.
Closing out November tonight with #CavsHawks!
PREVIEW: https://t.co/8oHqeXr88c#AllForOne pic.twitter.com/F2t1BhcN9L
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 30, 2017
- Date: Thursday, 30th November
- Time: 7:35 PM
- Place: Philips Arena
Sportsbook NBA Games Betting Odds:
Cavaliers -8 (-110) 215½ (-110) -330
Hawks +8 (-110) 215½ (-110) +270
John Collins is in his own way as deadly as Joan Collins
The good news, as far as big men go, for the Hawks, is that rookie center John Collins, who started the past three games at power forward alongside Dedmon, ranks first in five statistical categories among rookies who have played at least 20 minutes per game; namely, effective field-goal percentage, rebounding percentage, rebounds per 36 minutes, blocks percentage and blocks per 36 minutes. Collin’s stats obviously have to be taken with a grain of salt, especially if you mention him in the same breath as Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Arvydas Sabonis, James Worthy, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson. Coincidentally, Collins would have to channel the spirits of all those greats if people betting on NBA games expect the Hawks to at least stay within the eight-point spread against the Cavs.
Atlanta Stats
Atlanta is 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games playing Eastern Conference teams, 0-4 ATS in their last four playing a team with a winning record, and 1-4 ATS in their last five overall.
No King? No problem, all you need is Love
The Cavaliers be-all, end-all, King LeBron James, was, against the Heat on Tuesday, ejected for the first time in his fabled career. “I got fouled all the way up the court, from the time that I stripped him, all the way until I got to the rim,” he explained, not that he owes anybody any explanations. “I said what I had to say and then I moved on, but he decided I should get [ejected]. It is what it is. We got the win, and that’s what’s most important.” Not just did the Cavs get their 9th SU win in a row, but they also picked up a second straight ATS win in the process.
Big names on Court
James had 21 points and 12 rebounds prior to leaving (and make no mistake, no one can make the King leave a game but the King himself; people betting on NBA games better believe he was just humoring the deluded little official who ejected him) with 1:59 left in the third. Meanwhile, Kevin Love had 38 points, 22 in the first quarter, and nine rebounds. Cleveland is 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 road games, 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 playing a team with a losing record, and 2-6 ATS in their last eight after an ATS win.