On Saturday night, two Eastern Conference teams in a slump are set to face off. The Atlanta Hawks (9-14; 5-18-0 ATS) will be making the journey from Toronto to Ohio for this matchup.
In the confines of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cleveland Cavaliers (13-12; 10-15-0 ATS) await the arrival of the Atlanta Hawks. The question lingers: will Atlanta muster enough energy for the 7:40 p.m. EDT showdown, or are the Cavaliers poised to assert dominance on their home turf?
Prior to Friday’s game, Atlanta found themselves ensnared in a five-game losing streak—a common outcome when a team permits an average of 127 points per game over any given stretch.
Cleveland, too, enters this game on a losing streak, albeit one that carries a somewhat more forgivable tone. Their recent defeats unfolded in Orlando, followed by back-to-back losses in Boston.
Where to watch Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- Date: December 16, 2023
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Place: Cleveland
- Venue: Quicken Loans Arena
- TV channel: Bally Sports
- Live stream: Fubo
- NBA League Pass
Injury report
For the Cavs, Garaland (broken jawbone), Jerome (ankle injury), Mobley (knee injury), and Rubio (personal reasons) will not be playing the game. For the Hawks, Bufkin (finger injury), Griffin (personal reasons), Gueye (back injury), and Johnson (wrist injury) will be sitting this one out. Besides, Hunter (muscle injury) could also sit out for this game.
Key matchups
Commencing the weekend, the Hawks occupied the 27th position in defensive rating, conceding the third-highest points per game. They stand unrivaled in having the worst effective field goal percentage against them in the league. Additionally, merely three teams permit a higher offensive rebounding percentage than the Hawks.
The Hawks excel in inducing turnovers, ranking fifth in turnover percentage, but beyond that aspect, their strengths are limited. Furthermore, a multitude of key rotational players were sidelined on Friday, with the likelihood of several missing the upcoming game as well.
In terms of offense, Trae Young, boasting an average of 27.2 points and 10.8 assists per game, spearheads a squad that ranks fifth in offensive rating. Even amid their recent losing streak, Atlanta’s least productive outing still saw them put up 113 points.
Their primary concern, particularly evident in Boston, lay in their defense, conceding a total of 340 points across those games. While the figure may not appear staggering, it’s not reflective of the defensive prowess typically associated with the Cavaliers. This team boasted the NBA’s highest defensive rating last season and currently holds the eighth spot as the weekend commences.
They rank within the top 10 teams in both creating turnovers and inducing missed shots. While defensive rebounding remains a concern, Cleveland’s foundation continues to be built on their opponents’ inability to convert shots.
Switching focus to the offensive end, Donovan Mitchell, averaging 27.6 points per game, takes center stage, particularly in light of Darius Garland’s indefinite absence. Beyond Mitchell’s contributions, the team ranks 25th in offensive rating.
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
247
