Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat 4/17/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions
Contents
Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat Matchup Preview (4/17/22)
The Miami Heat managed to avoid the Brooklyn Nets in their first-round matchup in the NBA Playoffs but could not get away from the three-point shooting Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta managed to win two massive games against the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in tournament to sneak into the playoffs. The Hawks are a strange basketball team because they played virtually no defense throughout the 2021-22 regular season and just wanted to outshoot opponents every night. Now, suddenly, they turned it on and held their past two opponents to a 102-point average. That is not to say that every issue they have had defensively this season is fixed, but it is clear that they have worked harder recently.
Miami has also had an up-and-down season but still finished as the No. 1 seed in a tight, competitive Eastern Conference. This season, there were few teams with more injuries and COVID/health and safety protocol issues than the Heat, but they still managed to hang around until everyone was healthy. Once they got healthy, they certainly looked the part as one of the best teams in the East. This will not be an easy series for the Heat by any means, so check out my team analysis and the betting odds section below to see my prediction for this game!
Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat Betting Odds
Miami should be able to cover a 6.5-point spread against this Hawks team at home. The Heat had some internal struggles towards the end of the regular season, but in that organization, it is likely just a difference of opinion; they all want to win equally as much. The Hawks will be a bit tired coming off two high-intensity games against formidable opponents and are now rewarded with facing Miami. It’s a good situation for Miami, and Kyle Lowry should be able to force Trae Young to pass the ball to other guys. The Heat allow the second-fewest points to opposing point guards in the league. I will take the Heat Moneyline and the Heat against the spread for this game one matchup.
If you're in a state with legal sports betting, you can bet on this game! Lineups has exclusive new sign up bonuses from the top legal Sportsbooks online.
How To Watch
Date: 4/17/22
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Arena: FTX Arena – Miami, FL
Channel: TNT
Live Stream Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat Free Online: Watch Every NBA Game
You can stream this game online for free. You can get a free 7-day trial and live stream NBA games from any device. Click the banner below and start watching.
Atlanta Hawks Starting Lineup
PG: Trae Young
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: De’Andre Hunter
PF: Danilo Gallinari
C: Clint Capela
Atlanta Hawks Analysis
Atlanta has to be one of the most exciting yet frustrating teams to watch in the NBA. After the first two play-in games, it is clear that this team could have been a solid defensive team all season long, but it chose not to take that route. Instead, the Hawks wanted to chuck a bunch of threes and hope they outscore opponents more than they get outscored. Still, Trae Young was phenomenal in those play-in games, and it looks like he is ready to cause more havoc in the Eastern Conference for the second-straight season. Atlanta is the number one three-point shooting team in the NBA, and if it can shoot the lights out and play playoff-caliber defense, you never know what can happen.
Miami Heat Starting Lineup
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: Max Strus
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: P.J. Tucker
C: Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat Analysis
You are sadly mistaken if you thought one minor scuffle in the huddle of a frustrating regular-season game would derail this team. Miami was not only able to finish as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference but fortunately avoided the Brooklyn Nets as well! That will give the Heat home-court advantage until at least the NBA Finals, which can be the difference between moving on and going home, especially in such a tight Eastern Conference. A small lineup change has been beneficial for the Heat; they moved Max Strus into the starting two-guard role, moved Jimmy Butler to the three, P.J. Tucker to the four, and now, Duncan Robinson will come off the bench. Miami is one of the deepest teams in the NBA, and that will make all the difference in this series.
