Sports betting players know how important LeBron James is the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he may get a chance in the lineup on Wednesday after sitting the last three games. Another one of the Cavs' stars may join him as they head to Atlanta to face the streaking Hawks.
Cavaliers vs Hawks odds – Wednesday, April 14, 8:00 PM ET
The Cavaliers are now 1-4 without James in the lineup this year after a 98-92 loss at home to Orlando on Sunday, and this was their third straight loss. Delonte West came off the bench for 21 points, while Antawn Jamison and Mo Williams added 19 each for the Cavaliers, who shot just 41% from the field, but without James there was no ball movement as the Cavs had just 17 assists, as opposed to 29 for the Magic. The Cavs' sportsbook odds may be receiving a jolt as Shaquille O'Neal may be ready to return to the team after missing the last two months with a thumb injury, but like James, don't expect him to play a lot of minutes.
The Hawks have now won three in a row after a 104-96 win in Milwaukee on Monday night, and Joe Johnson led six Atlanta players in double figures with 31 points. The Hawks shot a sparkling 52.7% from the field, and they outrebounded the Bucks 48-34 in a possible first-round preview. If this will be a first-round series, then it could be the best possible draw for the Hawks as the Bucks have lost center Andrew Bogut for the season. If there is a knock on the Hawks, it's that they're not a big team, but with Bogut out of the way, the battle in the post has swung in Atlanta's direction.
Basketball betting odds should favor the Hawks in this contest, and they'll be aiming to halt a four-game skid at home to the Cavaliers. Overall, the Hawks have dropped nine straight to the Cavaliers, who will probably play it a little safe with James and especially the returning O'Neal. However, the Cavs are in a bit of a funk and their MVP will want to give his team a much-needed lift. This is similar to what Indianapolis went through heading into the playoffs this season in the NFL, but to their credit, they ended up with an appearance in the Super Bowl. The Hawks, on the other hand, have a lot of motivation to win this game, and they're an excellent 33-7 at Philips Arena, so we're betting that the streak stops here on Wednesday night.
Bet NBA: Atlanta
