The Atlanta Hawks head to FedExForum on Wednesday to face the Memphis Grizzlies. The Hawks are fighting to gain traction after a 4-game losing streak, while the Grizzlies are attempting to stay afloat in the Western Conference standings after a subpar start to their season. With key contributors returning and others still sidelined, this should be a telling matchup on both sides. Here, I break down this NBA matchup and give you my Hawks vs Grizzlies prediction.
Our Hawks vs Grizzlies Pick
Pick:
Hawks ML ATS PRO
Confidence:
2/5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Atlanta Hawks @ Memphis Grizzlies
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 8:00 PM ET
Venue: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
The Hawks have struggled recently, dropping four straight games and looking inconsistent on defense, particularly on the perimeter and in rebounding. Their offensive output remains respectable, but inefficiencies on the other end of the floor have put them in a precarious position in the East. Key starters Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher are unavailable, creating lineup challenges and limiting their depth. Jalen Johnson has been leading the charge, producing near triple-double numbers and anchoring much of Atlanta’s production. CJ McCollum has also stepped in nicely since being traded to Atlanta from the Washington Wizards.
Memphis enters this contest with its own inconsistencies, but recent developments could tip the scales in their favor. Star point guard Ja Morant returned from a six-game absence due to a right calf contusion and delivered an impactful performance, scoring 24 points and dishing out 13 assists in his return in England against the Orlando Magic. He has emphasized his commitment to the Grizzlies amid ongoing trade chatter, which could settle distractions entering this game. Memphis has done a ton of international traveling over the last week and it will be interesting to see if that impacts them at all here.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the Hawks and Grizzlies.
Memphis comes into this game at 18-23 against the spread this season.
Atlanta is 21-24 against the spread heading into this game.
The over is 23-22 in games involving the Atlanta Hawks this year.
Memphis has stayed under the total in 24 of their first 41 games for the season.
Hawks vs Grizzlies Model Projection
Score Projection: Hawks 117 – Grizzlies 113 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Hawks 52%, Grizzlies 48% ATS PRO
Final Thoughts
Memphis is at home and they do have Ja Morant back on the floor. But the Grizzlies are still banged up and dealing with the ramifications of international travel here. I'm going to take the Hawks to get a win on the road and to snap their four-game losing streak, though I can understand not feeling all that confident in either team based on what we've seen from them this year.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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