Half of the eight NBA matchups on the Thursday docket are of the interconference variety, and a bout between the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks might just be the one to watch.
The Thursday clash (8:00 p.m. ET) features a pair of squads that are 6-4 in their last 10 games. With one side occupying a top-four seed but the other in play-in range, this January contest carries plenty of importance.
Below, we’ll break down our Rockets vs. Hawks prediction and picks for Thursday night’s game. Make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals!
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Rockets vs. Hawks Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
Last season, the young and hungry Rockets went 52-30 in head coach Ime Udoka’s second year at the helm. Following the offseason addition of F Kevin Durant, they’re persevering through injuries and are pacing to surpass 50 wins once again.
The Hawks, on the other hand, finished last season one game below .500 at 40-42. With All-Star PG Trae Young traded to the Washington Wizards, head coach Quin Snyder’s crew is 24-35 and is tied with the Chicago Bulls at the bottom of the Eastern Conference play-in mix.
Thursday is the 167th all-time regular-season meeting between Houston and Atlanta. The Rockets own a narrow 84-82 advantage in the series, fueled by a pair of wins to tilt the scales in 2025.
Rockets vs. Hawks Over/Under, Spread
The Rockets enter Thursday’s game as 4.5-point road favorites, returning a 1.53x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Hawks are home underdogs with a 2.27x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Houston Rockets -4.5
- Over/Under: 223.5
- Game Winner Payout: Rockets 1.53x | Hawks 2.27x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Rockets vs. Hawks Injury Report
Let’s dive into the full Rockets vs. Hawks injury report for Thursday, via ESPN.
Rockets Injury Report
- C Steven Adams (ankle): OUT
- F Tari Eason (ankle): OUT
- F Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle): OUT
Hawks Injury Report
- C Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles): OUT
It’s worth noting that Hawks F Zaccharie Risacher (knee) didn’t play on Wednesday against the Boston Celtics and C Onyeka Okongwu (face) left Wednesday’s contest early.
Rockets vs. Hawks Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to help you make your Rockets vs. Hawks prediction on Thursday, January 29.
- The Rockets are a respectable 13-12 against the spread as a road team this year. The Hawks don’t fare very well at home, sitting 9-13 ATS.
- Houston’s +5.8 average scoring margin sits fourth among all NBA teams. They love to pack the paint on offense, sitting seventh in scoring there (53.0 PPG).
- Defensively, the Rockets have a stout support staff, ranking fourth in per-game scoring (110.5 PPG) and third in both assists (24.6) and rebounds (49.0) allowed each night.
- Atlanta’s offense shares the love (first in assists per game at 31.0) and is efficient from the field, boasting the seventh-highest effective field goal clip (55.6%).
- The other end of the court is where the Hawks struggle. They’re 25th in scoring (118.4 PPG) and 23rd in shooting percentage (47.6).
Rockets vs. Hawks Picks for PrizePicks Today: Thursday, January 29
Here are three top Rockets vs. Hawks picks to target for Thursday, January 29 on PrizePicks. Player stat projections via PrizePicks are headlined by F Kevin Durant, C Alperen Sengun, and F Jalen Johnson.
Rockets F Kevin Durant vs. Hawks Projection: 25.5 Points
- On the year, Durant averages 26.4 points per game. In his last 15, that number is up to 27.9.
- For the 13th year in a row, the Slim Reaper boasts a true shooting percentage of 62.0 or higher.
- Durant’s shot usage (27.6, 92nd percentile) and points per 75 (26.6, 94th percentile) remain absolutely elite, even in his old age, via NBARAPM.
- Per FantasyPros, Atlanta gives up the third-most points each night (25.74) to the SF position.
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Rockets C Alperen Sengun vs. Hawks Projection: 30.5 Pts + Rebs
- Through 38 games, Sengun pours in 30.4 combined points and rebounds per night. That figure has held relatively steady at 29.7 in his last 10 games.
- Career-best scoring efficiency from 0-3 feet (71.7%) and 3-10 feet (50.4%) has the Turkish big man thriving in his fifth season.
- Among players with at least 20 games logged, Sengun ranks 11th in average rebounding chances with 16.6.
- The Hawks cede 15.02 rebounds per game to centers, the seventh-most among all 30 NBA teams.
Hawks F Jalen Johnson vs. Rockets Projection: 39.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- Johnson brings home 41.3 combined points, rebounds, and assists per game. Since the Young trade, he’s still at a healthy 38.3.
- The fifth-year forward is shooting career-highs from 10-16 feet (47.5%) and from beyond the 3-point line (35.6%).
- Atlanta’s franchise player boasts new personal bests for rebound rate (16.1%) and assist rate (33.7%).
- Per databallr, Johnson’s 18.2 potential assists per 100 possessions are a 99th-percentile mark.
Make Rockets vs. Hawks Picks on PrizePicks
Rockets vs. Hawks picks aren’t the only way hoops fans can get in on the daily NBA action.
You can make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 30 states.
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