Hawks' thin defensive glass meets Cavaliers' sharp shooting
Atlanta forces turnovers at the league's fourth-best rate, and Cleveland ranks sixth in true shooting, with both teams among the faster ones.
- Cavaliers: sixth in true shooting, 58.7%
- Hawks: fourth in forcing turnovers, 16%
- Sportsbooks' prices: Hawks 50.5%, Cavaliers 49.5%
1 min read How this story was written
Thu, Oct 29, 8:00 PM
Game card: Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks, Thu, Oct 29, 8:00 PM
The Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1), sixth in true shooting, visit the Atlanta Hawks (2-3), fourth at forcing turnovers, Thursday, October 29, at 8:00 PM ET, with ball security the question for Cleveland.
Cleveland shoots 58.7% on true shooting and 54.5% on effective field goals, seventh in the league. Atlanta allows a 54% effective mark, 21st, so open looks should come if the Cavaliers hold the ball.
That is the catch. Cleveland turns it over on 14.5% of its possessions, 23rd in the league, and Atlanta forces a turnover on 16% of its opponents' possessions. The Hawks also give it away at 11.8%, fifth best.
The glass favors Cleveland. Atlanta grabs 69% of available defensive rebounds, 26th in the league, while the Cavaliers collect 74.2%, 10th.
Donovan Mitchell leads Cleveland with 24.8 points a game and shoots 87% from the line. Evan Mobley averages 10 rebounds, Jarrett Allen blocks 2.3 shots and James Harden hands out 6.8 assists. For Atlanta, Jalen Johnson averages 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists, and Dyson Daniels leads the team with 3.4 steals.
The Hawks are without two reserves. Mouhamed Gueye is out, with a return set for Friday, November 20, and Henri Veesaar is out until Thursday, July 1. Cleveland lists no injuries.
The Cavaliers have won three in a row, including a 127-125 win over Minnesota. The Hawks have lost three straight, the latest a 129-117 loss to Miami, after a 128-81 rout at Charlotte.
Sportsbooks' prices give the Hawks a 50.5% chance to win, and Keel's projection matches it, with Atlanta a 0.2-point favorite.
Also in this story
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More on Donovan Mitchell
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