@KeepTheJuice21 NBA Pick & Preview - 4/5

The Pacers have had a tough stretch of losses lately, but the record is misleading. Of the 7 consecutive losses they’ve just recorded, 5 were within single digits. And they have played some tough teams in that stretch, including the Celtics, Nuggets, Raptors and Grizzlies. The 76ers have been far from consistent lately and have a tendency to blow leads, or at least let them shrink. The Pacers don’t seem likely to win but they are playing with more energy than most with their record would. Philly will be playing their 3 rd game in 4 days, on the road, look for the Pacers to sneak a close game on them.

The Hawks started the season off a big playoff run and looked like they could be a real contender. What followed was a mess of a season, saved only by some ridiculous performances by Trae Young. But lately, against all odds, that has been enough. He’s elevating the play of the whole team and they’ve won 5 games in a row, including wins over Brooklyn, Cleveland and Golden State. The Raptors have hit a stride of their own, but disappointed on Sunday against Miami. Push comes to shove, I don’t think the Raptors have the offensive prowess to keep up if Atlanta is making their shots, which they have done recently. Look for the upset here, but I’m taking the points to be safe.