Pressure on Hawks, Warriors in crucial Game 3 NBA playoff matchups

Atlanta Hawks will be gunning for just their second SU road win in their last six games when they visit the Washington Wizards on Saturday as 3.5-point favourites in NBA betting at Coral’s online sportsbook.

The Hawks evened up their Eastern Conference semi-final at 1-1 with a 106-90 win over Washington on Tuesday, covering as strong 9.5-point betting favourites and halting a short two-game SU losing streak against the Wizards.

Atlanta has struggled to find a way to top the Wizards in recent visits to Verizon Center, going 1-4 SU in their last five trips to the nation’s capital, 2-2-1 ATS, while surrendering 102.4 points per game.

However, the Wizards will likely hit the hardwood on Saturday night without star point guard John Wall, who missed Game 2 of the series with a hand injury, that was later diagnosed as multiple fractures in his hand and wrist.

Wall has vowed to return to the court some time in the series, and if he can be effective, his presence would provide a big boost to the Wizards. Wall had recorded double-doubles in each of his last four appearances, and the club is winless in three games without him in the lineup this season.

With or without Wall, the Wizards are a strong team in their own barn, SU winners in their last five at home, 3-1-1 ATS, and 11-2 SU in their last 13, but are 0-3 SU and ATS in their last three as home underdogs.

Golden State Warriors (-4.5) @ Memphis Grizzlies
NBA Championship favourites Golden State Warriors will be looking to bounce back from a surprising 97-90 loss to the Grizzlies in Game 2 of their Western Conference semi-final, when they travel to Memphis on Saturday night for Game 3 as 4.5-point favourites in NBA Playoffs betting at Coral.

The Warriors saw their nine-game SU win streak ended with Tuesday’s loss, in which they were pegged as heavy 10-point favourites. The game also marked the first time they failed to score more than 90 points in a game since topping the Philadelphia 76ers in a low-scoring 89-84 road affair, back in early February.