Hawks vs Blazers: Key Matchup, Injuries, and Predictions

0:00It's March 1st for the NBA, let's get into it. Follow and subscribe for more team news every day. The Atlanta Hawks are fighting for a playing spot in the Eastern Conference. Their 10th right now, tied with the Charlotte Hornets at the same record. Tonight they host the Portland Trail Blazers at State Farm Arena, a big test to see if they can stack wins down the stretch. Those recent blowouts over the Wizards look good on paper, but the Wizards are banged up and not much of a challenge. With the Hornets playing hot lately, the Hawks could get stuck at the 9th or 10th seed. That means winning two straight playing games just to reach the playoffs. Atlanta's offense tops the league and assists, but sits 20th in offensive rating and rebounds. Their defense has stepped up recently, ranking 5th in steals. Portland's attack is weak, dead last in three-point shooting, though they grab boards well. Newcomer Jonathan Kominga has been on fire, scoring 44 points over two games. Dyson Daniels could feast on Scoot Henderson's loose handle.

1:03Portland leans on Dott of Inclinion's rebounding dominance, averaging 11 points and 11 boards. Jalen Johnson and Nicol Alexander Walker are questionable for the Hawks. Portland's on a back-to-back with injuries, too. Tip off is at 6 p.m. Eastern on FanDuel TV. Expect Atlanta to pull out a solid win and keep pace. This episode is supported by our sponsor, See Details in the Description. A pillow that plays your podcast, music, or white noise privately, no earbuds required, I S O L I S O L O S O L Pilo dot com.