Atlanta Hawks vs New Orleans Pelicans 10/27/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Atlanta Hawks vs. New Orleans Pelicans Matchup Preview (10/27/21)

The Hawks (2-1) will fly west to face the Pelicans (1-3) in New Orleans for a non-conference matchup. Through its first few games, New Orleans has been without its best player and young superstar, Zion Williamson. Currently, there is no timetable in place for Williamson’s return, as he is nursing an injury. The Pelicans will likely struggle until Zion returns because they don’t have enough true scorers and offensive firepower. As a matter of fact, New Orleans is 24th in the NBA in points per game and 26th in offensive efficiency without Zion. Atlanta has had a more promising start to its season than New Orleans; it has a 2-1 record and is playing terrifically on the defensive end. Additionally, Trae Young is fresh off a game where he had 32 points and nine assists. The Hawks have a ton of depth, as demonstrated by Cam Reddish’s red-hot start to the season, despite coming off the bench.

Atlanta can secure a win fairly effortlessly in this one, despite being on the road. The Hawks will need to continue playing with the defensive intensity they have been so far this season. Head Coach Nate McMillan always has his teams in great defensive form, and this year is no different. Atlanta ranks third in opponent points per game and fourth in defensive efficiency, which puts it towards the top of best defensive teams in the NBA.

The only way the Pels stand a chance is if they start firing on all cylinders offensively. They are so inefficient offensively that it will be incredibly challenging for them to put up a large enough point total to knock off the Hawks. Defensively, they will also need to ramp up the intensity and hold the Hawks around 100-105 points.

Atlanta Hawks vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Odds

The odds and lines have not been announced for this game when writing this article, so take a look at different sportsbooks and see what they have to offer. Hopefully, they will put out odds the night before the game.

I love Atlanta against the spread here. First, it is 2-1 ATS through its first three games. The Hawks also match up extremely well with the Pelicans and should have no problem putting them away. They rank third in opponent points per game and fourth in defensive efficiency, while the Pelicans are 26th in offensive efficiency and 24th in points per game. Despite being on the road, Atlanta is the far superior team when Zion isn’t playing for the Pels, so it should be an easy one.

The point total is another interesting bet. If the line is reasonably placed, I like the under. The Pelicans don’t really have an offensive identity right now, and quite frankly, they look a bit lost. I don’t know that they will put up 100 or more points on a top-tier Hawks defense. Meanwhile, the Hawks actually play at a slower pace than average, despite having several sharpshooters, including Trae Young. McMillan-coached teams are historically defensive-centric, and it is hard to imagine that this game will be much different. I really like the under at 220 or better, but I feel the opening lines may come in lower than that.

TV Schedule

Date: 10/27/21
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA
Channel: ESPN

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Atlanta Hawks Starting Lineup

PG: Trae Young
SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF: De’Andre Hunter
PF: John Collins
C: Clint Capela

Atlanta Hawks Analysis

The Hawks have been about as good as advertised, save the Cleveland game, this season. While it is still early in the season, Atlanta ranks as one of the better defensive teams in the NBA; it is third in opponent points per game and fourth in defensive efficiency. Offensively, the Hawks are still wildly efficient, ranking eighth in offensive efficiency and 14th in points per game. The points per game rank may feel low, but based on their pace, this is very solid. Trae Young and John Collins had breakout games on Monday, which should help catapult their offense to greater heights. Nate McMillan has done a great job getting everyone to buy in early, including Cam Reddish, who had a slow start to his career but has looked immensely more promising in the first three games of the 2021-22 season.

New Orleans Pelicans Starting Lineup

PG: Devonte’ Graham
SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF: Herbert Jones
PF: Brandon Ingram
C: Jonas Valanciunas

New Orleans Pelicans Analysis

The Pelicans caught a bad break when Zion Williamson injured his foot, and to make matters worse, there is no timetable currently for his return to the starting lineup. Williamson has put on some weight since the injury, and the Pels will likely want to get his foot healthy and back in perfect shape before activating him again. While the city of New Orleans anxiously awaits his return, Brandon Ingram is trying to take the lead and keep this team competitive. However, the Pelicans have struggled mightily through the first four games of their season, especially on the offensive end, where they are 24th in points per game and 26th in offensive efficiency. Their lack of chemistry and offensive identity without Zion is concerning in the short term, and I would fade them fairly consistently.

Atlanta Hawks vs. New Orleans Pelicans Daily Fantasy Picks

With the temporary loss of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram has been heavily relied upon to produce on the offensive end. He is the only truly reliable scorer on this Pels team, which is a major reason they have been struggling at that end of the floor. However, this experience is good for Ingram because he will develop more playmaking skills and create for others around him. For now, Ingram has been putting up huge numbers; he averages 27 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Ingram should be less expensive than some other stars, so consider utilizing him in your lineups.

Cam Reddish is averaging 18.7 points on 44.2% from the field and 56.3% from behind the arc through three games. He is currently playing the most efficient basketball that he has ever played in the NBA. Reddish looks like a potential breakout candidate this year; he looks much more comfortable as a scorer. Surprisingly, he has been putting up these numbers while coming off the bench. Reddish has not started one game this year and is out-scoring every starter, with the obvious exception of Trae Young. While it is still early, his fantasy outlook is promising, especially considering the circumstances.