The Atlanta Hawks will have their hands full on Wednesday night when they play host to the NBA’s No. 1 team, the Phoenix Suns.  Phoenix came out on top with a 117-110 win at the end of March, in the only other meeting between these teams this year.

The Suns are 1.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds with a total of 228.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Phoenix is the top team in the NBA for a reason.  They have a 22-9 road record and they’re coming into this game on a five-game winning streak.  The Suns are 40-24-1 against the spread overall and they’ve covered in four of their last five games.  They’ve hit the Over in four of their last five games overall and six of their last seven on the road.

The Hawks look like they’ll reach the playoffs this year without being forced to go through the play-in tournament.  They’ve won 13 of their last 19 games and they haven’t lost at home to Phoenix in seven years.  For the season, Atlanta is 36-29-1 ATS, including covering in six straight home games.  The total has gone Under in four of their last six games overall.

Phoenix Suns

There’s not much rest for Phoenix as they’re fresh off a 134-118 overtime win against Cleveland on Tuesday.  It’s fair to wonder what the Suns will have left in the gas tank in their final East Coast game of the season.  Chris Paul has been a big reason for this team’s success this year.  He’s a veteran playmaker, but he’s also an underrated and responsible defender.  Against the Cavs, Paul finished with 23 points, 16 assists, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks.  He is averaging 8.9 assists per game, third-best in the NBA.

Devin Booker has been another huge piece for Phoenix all year.  He’s elevated his defensive game from last season and he’s still able to put points on the board.  Booker is averaging more than 30 points a night in five of his last six games and shooting the ball at 53.3 per cent over that time.  He leads the team in points, averaging 25.7 per game over the entire season and he is second in assists, averaging 4.4 a night.

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta will be the more rested team, after a 123-114 win against Portland on Monday.  The Hawks sit fifth in the Eastern Conference and they’re within striking distance of overtaking the Knicks for fourth.  Atlanta’s 3-point shooting was the difference-maker against the Trail Blazers on Monday as they hit 20 of 41 attempts.  Danilo Gallinari hit seven of 10 shots from beyond the arc and finished with a team-high 28 points off the bench.  Trae Young was the Hawks’ main playmaker on Monday, finishing with 11 dimes and 21 points.  Young had 13 assists against Phoenix back in March.

After a bit of a slow start to the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic has been much more consistent.  He had 25 points against Portland and hit seven 3-point attempts.  Since the start of April, the Serbian is averaging 21.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.  If the Suns’ defenders focus on Young this game, it could open the door for a big showing from Bogdanovic.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Suns vs. Hawks?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 25.55
Assists	Chris Paul 8.89
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.54
FG%	Deandre Ayton 62.6
Steals	Chris Paul 1.41
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.17

ATL

Points	Trae Young 25.3
Assists	Trae Young 9.43
Rebounds	Clint Capela 14.33
FG%	Onyeka Okongwu 64.4
Steals	Cam Reddish 1.27
Blocks	Clint Capela 2.05

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.32
Assists	Chris Paul 8.55
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 11.82
FG%	Ty-Shon Alexander 100
Steals	Chris Paul 1.15
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.09

ATL

Points	Trae Young 28.81
Assists	Trae Young 9.5
Rebounds	Clint Capela 11.17
FG%	Skylar Mays 80
Steals	Bogdan Bogdanovic 1.61
Blocks	Clint Capela 1.06

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Hawks Team Leaders

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 25.55
Assists	Chris Paul 8.89
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.54
FG%	Deandre Ayton 62.6
Steals	Chris Paul 1.41
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.17

ATL

Points	Trae Young 25.3
Assists	Trae Young 9.43
Rebounds	Clint Capela 14.33
FG%	Onyeka Okongwu 64.4
Steals	Cam Reddish 1.27
Blocks	Clint Capela 2.05

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.32
Assists	Chris Paul 8.55
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 11.82
FG%	Ty-Shon Alexander 100
Steals	Chris Paul 1.15
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.09

ATL

Points	Trae Young 28.81
Assists	Trae Young 9.5
Rebounds	Clint Capela 11.17
FG%	Skylar Mays 80
Steals	Bogdan Bogdanovic 1.61
Blocks	Clint Capela 1.06

Injuries

Phoenix

Torrey Craig (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 09 / 07 / 21

Dario Saric (SF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 06 / 07 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Ques Tues Illness - 30 / 06 / 21

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 25 / 06 / 21

Cameron Payne (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 24 / 06 / 21

Ty-Shon Alexander (PG)

Ques Wed Illness - 03 / 06 / 21

Jae Crowder (SF)

Out Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Deandre Ayton (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 05 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sun Wrist - 06 / 05 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sun Wrist - 02 / 05 / 21

Atlanta

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Sat Knee - 02 / 07 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Thurs Knee - 30 / 06 / 21

Clint Capela (C)

Prob Thurs Eye - 29 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 29 / 06 / 21

Trae Young (PG)

Prob Sat Foot - 28 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 27 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 24 / 06 / 21

Kevin Huerter (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 22 / 06 / 21

Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 22 / 06 / 21

Bruno Fernando (PF)

Elig Wed Suspension - 21 / 06 / 21

Injuries

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Torrey Craig (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 09 / 07 / 21	2-3	3-1-1	+ -
Craig is bothered by a right knee contusion, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Bucks.
Dario Saric (SF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 06 / 07 / 21	3-3	4-1-1	+ -
Saric has torn his right ACL and he will miss an extended period.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Ques Tues	Illness - 30 / 06 / 21	3-4	5-1-1	+ -
Johnson is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will take on the Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 25 / 06 / 21	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Payne is nursing a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 4 of the Western Conference final versus the Clippers.
Cameron Payne (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 24 / 06 / 21	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Payne was lifted from Thursday's game with a left ankle injury, and he will not return.
Ty-Shon Alexander (PG)	Ques Wed	Illness - 03 / 06 / 21	11-6	9-7-1	+ -
Alexander is ailing from an illness, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round against the Nuggets.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Out Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	14-8	11-10-2	+ -
Crowder will not suit up for Sunday's tilt against the Spurs, as he will be given a day of rest.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 05 / 21	14-10	12-11-2	+ -
Ayton is dealing with left knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 06 / 05 / 21	15-12	15-11-2	+ -
Johnson has been out of commission due to a right wrist sprain, but he is expected to take on the Lakers in the Western Conference first round.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 02 / 05 / 21	17-13	18-11-2	+ -
Johnson is tending to a sprained right wrist, but he is likely to take the court Sunday versus the Thunder.

Atlanta

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Sat	Knee - 02 / 07 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the lineup for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 30 / 06 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Clint Capela (C)	Prob Thurs	Eye - 29 / 06 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Capela is dealing with right eye inflammation, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 29 / 06 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Trae Young (PG)	Prob Sat	Foot - 28 / 06 / 21	1-3	1-3	+ -
Young is nursing a right foot bone contusion, and it is projected he will suit up for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 27 / 06 / 21	1-3	1-3	+ -
Bogdanovic is nursing a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 24 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but he is expected to be in the line up for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Kevin Huerter (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 22 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Huerter is expected to take on the Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals despite left ankle soreness.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 22 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Bogdanovic is bothered by right knee soreness, but it is expected that he will line up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.
Bruno Fernando (PF)	Elig Wed	Suspension - 21 / 06 / 21	3-3	2-4	+ -
Fernando is serving a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation, and he is eligible to return for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Bucks.