A pair of injury-riddled squads limp into Thursday when the Spurs host the Hawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV. Despite their respective injury issues, they've compiled a combined record of 19-10 out of the gate.
Below, we'll preview the game and break down three of the top Hawks vs. Spurs NBA Picks on PrizePicks for Thursday, including for Hawks F Jalen Johnson and Spurs F Keldon Johnson.
Hawks vs. Spurs Prediction, Thursday NBA Picks
Spurs F/C Victor Wembanyama (calf) will miss his third straight game for the Spurs; he's expected to be out for at least two weeks. Joining him on the sidelines are G Stephon Castle (hip) and G Dylan Harper (calf).
The Hawks are missing their own superstar in G Trae Young (knee), who is expected to be out into December. F/C Kristaps Porzingis (knee) and F Zaccharie Risacher (hip) are listed as questionable to face the Spurs.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have only played six home games, four of which they lost. However, they are 7-2 on the road.
Even with Young out, they have scored at least 122 points in four of their last six games.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are 7-2 at home, and their two home losses came at the hands of the Warriors.
The Spurs have won both of their last two games since Wembanyama went down, defeating the Kings and Grizzlies by double digits each.
Hawks vs. Spurs Prediction, Thursday NBA Picks
Here are three of the top Hawks vs. Spurs DFS picks on PrizePicks for Thursday. Player projections via the PrizePicks real money NBA game.
Hawks F Jalen Johnson vs. Spurs Projection – 15.5 Rebs+Asts
- Johnson has finished with at least 16 combined rebounds and assists in each of his last five games.
- The fifth-year forward is averaging 9.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game for the season.
- The former Dookie is on pace to log at least 8.7 rebounds a night for the third straight campaign.
- Since Young suffered his injury, the star forward has averaged 10.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 35 minutes over nine games.
Spurs F Harrison Barnes vs. Hawks Projection – 13.5 Points
- Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper have combined to average 57.5 points per game.
- With the Spurs being shorthanded the last two games, Barnes scored 20 points against the Kings and 23 points versus the Grizzlies.
- After shooting 50.8% from the field and 43.3% from behind the arc last season, the veteran forward is shooting 55.5% from the field and 48.6% from deep through 14 games.
- Barnes is playing 30 minutes a night this season, compared to 27 minutes per game last season.
- The Hawks have played at the 11th-fastest pace (102.17) in the league.
Spurs F Keldon Johnson vs. Hawks Projection – 14.5 Points
- Johnson has averaged at least 15.7 points per game in a season three times during his career. That included him scoring 22.0 points per game in 2022-23.
- With the Spurs improving their depth, Johnson played just 24 minutes per game last season.
- The former first-round pick logged 30 minutes versus the Grizzlies with the Spurs shorthanded Tuesday, scoring 18 points along the way.
- Although Johnson averages just 8.5 shot attempts per game for the season, he has attempted at least 11 shots in both of the last two games without Wembanyama. That included 9 3-point attempts.
Injuries have put a damper on Thursday’s matchup between the Hawks and Spurs. Jalen Johnson will look to lead the way for Atlanta again, while Barnes and Keldon Johnson have the potential for more minutes and shot attempts.
With plenty of projections to consider for Hawks vs. Spurs and the rest of Thursday’s slate, now is the time to build your NBA Lineup on PrizePicks. Just pick More or Less for at least two NBA player, and you could take home some cash-money.
Check out the Playbook for more NBA DFS picks and analysis all the way through the season.
