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Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat

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Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat


The Hawks have two home games left in the regular season and one of them is tonight vs the Miami Heat. Both teams come into tonight’s game in need of a win to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament or in Miami’s case, get out of it altogether.

The Hawks are coming into this game on a two-game losing streak and are hoping they can get rolling here as the regular season comes to an end and they can be playing their best basketball. Atlanta will still be without Trae Young for this game and will be leaning on Dejounte Murray to lift them to a home win vs Miami. 

After winning Eastern Conference Player Of The Week, Murray cooled off a little last week, scoring 20 points only once in four games. He has been struggling shooting from the field and if Atlanta’s supporting cast does not deliver on nights when Murray is not as productive, the Hawks are usually in big trouble. 

Bogdan Bogdanovic has been one of the Hawks’s best players this season and he is coming off of a night where he shot 75% from three. Bogdanovic is a huge part of the Hawks’ offense due to his three-point shooting ability and when he gets going, he can put up a huge scoring total. He had 38 in a loss vs Milwaukee a week ago. 

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De’Andre Hunter is going to have a lot of responsibility tonight on both ends of the floor. Hunter might be the Hawks’s best perimeter defender and will spend time guarding Jimmy Butler tonight. He can be inconsistent on the offensive end, but Hunter can be one of the Hawks’s most impactful players on any given night. 

Jalen Johnson is the other player who could see some time guarding Butler tonight. Johnson has been one of the NBA’s most improved players this season on both ends of the floor and recorded his first career triple-double last week vs Detroit. Whether it is scoring, rebounding, or playmaking, Johnson has been able to do it all for the Hawks this season. 

Clint Capela is one of the defensive anchors for the Hawks and their best rebounder. While he can miss some easy baskets, Capela is one of the Hawks most important players due to his strengths and he will be tasked with guarding Bam Adebayo tonight. 

The Hawks rotation will likely consist of Kobe Bufkin, Garrison Matthews, Vit Krejci, and Bruno Fernando. Bufkin has shown the ability to be an impactful two-way player as a rookie, while Matthews and Krejci are two of Atlanta’s better shooters. Fernando can be inconsistent as the backup center but can bring energy and toughness on most nights. 

Coming into this game, Atlanta ranks 5th in PPG, 20th in field goal percentage, 7th in three-point attempts, 15th in three-point percentage, 7th in free throw attempts, 2nd in offensive rebounding, and 16th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are 10th in points per 100 possessions, 16th in effective field goal percentage, 11th in turnover percentage, 5th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 12th in free throw rate. 

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The Hawks have had a problem with the Heat for the past few years and a lot of it has to do with the Heat’s defense and physicality. Not much has changed for Miami this year, as they rank 4th in PPG allowed, 10th in field goal percentage allowed, and 8th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Miami is 7th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 16th in effective field goal percentage allowed. 

Miami has had a hard time staying healthy this season, but they are relatively healthy coming into tonight’s game. The report to watch is if Terry Rozier will play tonight, as he is questionable. 

The problems for Miami are usually on offense and that is again the case this year. The Heat are 27th in PPG, 23rd in field goal percentage, 18th in three-point attempts, 13th in three-point percentage, 13th in free throw attempts, 27th in offensive rebounding, and 3rd in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Miami is 21st in points per 100 possessions, 21st in effective field goal percentage, 9th in turnover percentage, 24th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 7th in free throw rate. 

The Heat still have plenty of talent though. Jimmy Butler is one of the most feared players this time of year and guys like Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro can make big differences, especially against this Hawks defense which ranks 28th in PPG allowed, 26th in field goal percentage allowed, and 28th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 26th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 28th in effective field goal percentage. 

Viewing and Betting Information

Tip-off time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time

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Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast, 

Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be underdogs at home tonight, as they are currently 3.5 point underdogs according to the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook and the over/under is set at 220.5.

Predictions:

Miami is always a tough matchup for Atlanta, no matter where the game is played. Both teams need this game in hopes of improving their postseason outlook, but I think it is safe to say the Heat need it more. Miami wants to get out of the play-in tournament and avoid a potential first round matchup with the Celtics. This is a matchup where Atlanta could use Trae Young, but they won’t have him. I think it will be a close game, but Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are the top two players on the floor. Heat win a close one.

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Final Score: Miami 112, Atlanta 107 (Miami -3.5, Under)



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Atlanta, GA

Falcons Injury Report vs. Cowboys: Atlanta Gets Good News on Starters

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Falcons Injury Report vs. Cowboys: Atlanta Gets Good News on Starters


The Atlanta Falcons have revealed their injury report from Thursday’s practice ahead of Sunday’s game vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

Atlanta received positive news surrounding several starters, including safety Justin Simmons (hamstring) and linebacker Kaden Elliss (knee) being full participants. Both players were limited Wednesday, as was backup nickel cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., who’s battled a back injury for several weeks.

Elsewhere, starting right guard Chris Lindstrom’s status was elevated from out Wednesday to limited Thursday. Lindstrom suffered a knee injury in last Sunday’s 31-26 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and did not play in the second half, though he was cleared to return. He said postgame he expected to play against Dallas.

Four others were limited, though only two — linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) and center Drew Dalman (ankle) — were injury related. Tight end Charlie Woerner and linebacker Nate Landman were both on the list due to rest purposes.

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Yet while the Falcons’ injury report is mostly positive, two rookies appear to be facing an uphill climb to play Sunday.

Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and linebacker JD Bertrand have missed each of Atlanta’s practices this week. Bertrand is in concussion protocol, meaning all four of Atlanta’s linebackers are contending with injuries.

On the defensive front, Orhorhoro sustained a knee injury against the Buccaneers. Morris said Orhorhoro’s injury is “not looking great,” and his practice availability — or lack thereof — supports that.

The Falcons (5-3) and Cowboys (3-4) will kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.



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Falcons Have Several Starters on Injury Report Before Facing Cowboys

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Falcons Have Several Starters on Injury Report Before Facing Cowboys


The Atlanta Falcons’ first injury report before their Week 9 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys consists of several key players.

Three players did not participate in Atlanta’s practice Wednesday, headlined by All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom. The Falcons were also without a pair of rookies in second-round defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and fifth-round linebacker JD Bertrand.

Lindstrom suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of Sunday’s 31-26 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Falcons coach Raheem Morris said postgame he was cleared to return. Lindstrom said in the locker room afterwards he expected to be fine for the Cowboys.

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Bertrand (concussion) and Orhorhoro (ankle) also sustained injuries against Tampa Bay. Orhorhoro exited the game in the third quarter and did not return, and his status for Sunday appears bleak, according to Morris.

“We’ll have to see a little bit more, see what’s going on in the day,” Morris said Wednesday. “Not looking great.”

Atlanta had seven players limited. Some, like safety Justin Simmons (hamstring) and linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) were expected, as they’ve been battling pre-existing injuries for multiple weeks and did not play against Tampa Bay.

Others, however, are a touch more interesting to monitor.

Linebacker Kaden Elliss injured his knee vs. the Buccaneers, and while he returned the following drive, he was limited Wednesday. Nickel cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. has endured a back injury for several weeks — he was active against Tampa Bay and “made it through the game fairly well,” Morris said.

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Two others — outside linebackers Matt Judon and James Smith-Williams — were limited due to rest.

Perhaps the most encouraging inclusion on the Falcons’ injury report is center Drew Dalman, who was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday and participated in his first practice since suffering an ankle injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.

Dalman’s 21-day practice window is open, and he appears to have a chance to play against the Cowboys.

Atlanta (5-3) and Dallas (3-4) will kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta's proposal to extend scooter share curfew moves forward

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Atlanta's proposal to extend scooter share curfew moves forward


The city of Atlanta is considering changes to its rental scooter and e-bike program that could allow rides later into the night. 

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On Wednesday, the City Council’s Transportation Committee advanced a measure to extend the rental curfew, potentially allowing rides until 2 a.m.

The current curfew for the bikes and scooters is midnight. The restriction was first implemented in 2019 following four fatal accidents involving scooters. Initially, rentals were shut down at 9 p.m., but this was later extended to midnight. 

However, some city leaders argue that the curfew unfairly limits transportation options for those working late-night shifts.

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“The logic never really held to me why we were banning one type of motor transportation at night when you had others that were equally vulnerable or equally dangerous,” Council member Amir Farokhi of District 2 said. 

The council member added that the curfew impacts his working-class constituents, especially, “workers in town who use the scooters to get to and from their jobs at hotels and restaurants, after hours to get to market and otherwise get home.”

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The Atlanta Police Department has raised concerns regarding the proposed change. 

Assistant Chief Carven Tyus explained to the committee that there are safety risks associated with late-night scooter use. 

“We do have people that use those scooters once it becomes dark to commit crimes,” Tyus said. He added that police would like to see more data before any curfew extension is implemented. “We’re all about the connectivity and people using scooters, but we just see a different breed of people using those scooters after midnight,” he stated.

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Farokhi countered that the curfew is an excessive measure. “When I have a drive-by shooting on Boulevard, APD isn’t standing here telling me we need to ban cars in the hours of ten and twelve because there was a drive-by,” he argued.

Some city residents and students also voiced their support for the extended hours. 

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A master’s student at Georgia Tech who regularly uses a scooter for late-night transportation told FOX 5, “As a female, being able to ride my scooter at night honestly makes me feel a little bit safer.”

The 2 a.m. curfew extension was approved by the Transportation Committee with three yes votes, though most members abstained, saying they wanted to see additional data on scooter safety. 

The measure now advances to the full City Council for a vote.

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