DTM’s Friday Night ESPN NBA Liftoff | CLE at ATL

Cleveland Cavaliers (41-18) at Atlanta Hawks (34-26)

When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, March 3, 2017

Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

America’s Bookie Line: Atlanta +3 Total: 214

TV Coverage: ESPN

By Dan Leach

Follow Dan on Twitter @DanLeach971

Nothing like a solid battle between Eastern Conference playoff teams to wet your whistle for what should be a fun weekend of NBA Action. The Cavs coming off a tough loss to Boston last time out and will be ready for the fired up Hawks who beat the Cavs the only other time they have played this season back in November. It also marks the fist time former Hawk Kyle Korver comes back to his old stomping grounds.

Atlanta is in the midst of a six game home stand after starting it off with a win over the Mavs and currently sit in the 5th spot in the East and just a game and a half back behind Toronto for the four seed and a chance to host a first round series.

Atlanta has been a solid home team all season and with the Cavs still missing Kevin Love, and Cleveland yet with the series of the newly acquired Andrew Bogut, I think the Hawks are a tasty home play here getting the three points.

It won’t be easy as the Cavs will be playing with a little anger after losing in Boston, but I see Atlanta having the upper hand in this one and finding a way to slow down Lebron and company while having a big night offensively. Look for this one to be close throughout, but in the end for Atlanta to have just enough to win it outright or lose on a late bucket and cover the spread.

7.4 DTM Bagels and Locks on the Hawks (Atlanta +3)

Dan Leach was the world’s first human to live under the sea for more than 60 days, created what is now used as the International Olympic Flag, was the basis of Denzel Washington’s character Frank Lucas in “American Gangster”, Is often consulted on matters of national “Sports Security”, was the first human to interview Dracula, started the American Revolution on a dare, once sat in on drums with Led Zeppelin, and is a noted expert in the field of Time Travel.