This Wednesday’s game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks features two teams on losing streaks. Atlanta enters as a clear favorite despite losing two games in a row, while the Pelicans are trying to end an eight-game losing streak. Here, I have broken down this contest in the NBA, and I've made my Pelicans vs Hawks prediction below.
Our Pelicans vs Hawks Pick
Pick: | Pelicans +10.5 |
Confidence: | 2/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New Orleans Pelicans @ Atlanta Hawks
- Date & Time: January 7, 2026, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
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Key Storylines
- The Hawks have lost two games in a row coming into this matchup. They lost two straight games in Toronto against the Raptors and they struggled to get stops on the defensive end of the floor during those two games. Atlanta gave up 126 points per game over the last two games against the Raps and they will have to be better to beat the Pels in this matchup.
- Trae Young is questionable for this game due to a quad injury. There are questions about how long Young will be a member of the Hawks' roster, as he is the subject of a ton of trade speculation with the deadline less than a month away. If he plays, the Hawks would have a much better chance of winning this game. But nothing is guaranteed given the situation surrounding Young right now.
- New Orleans enters this game having lost eight games in a row, while injuries to players like Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray continue to impact their performance and depth.
- In their previous meeting on November 22, Atlanta routed New Orleans 115–98, with Kristaps Porzingis leading the scoring and Jalen Johnson flirting with a triple‑double. Both are expected to play for Atlanta in this game as well, which is part of the reason that the Hawks are such heavy favorites here.
Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends
- Atlanta won the first meeting between these teams in New Orleans this season.
- Atlanta is 18-20 against the spread going into this contest.
- The Pelicans are 20-17-1 against the spread entering Wednesday night.
- Both of these teams are 21-17 in the over/under market this season, favoring the over slightly.
Best Player Props to Watch
Player | Prop |
|---|
Jalen Johnson | Over 24.5 Points |
Nickeil Alexander‑Walker | Over 2.5 Threes |
Trey Murphy III | Over 20.5 Points |
Kristaps Porzingis | Over 4.5 Rebounds |
Pelicans vs Hawks Model Projection
Score Projection: Hawks 114 – Pelicans 109
Win Probability: Hawks 81%, Pelicans 19%
Final Thoughts
The Hawks should win this game at home against the Pelicans, extending the losing streak of New Orleans to nine games. But I'm taking the points with the Pels in this matchup, as Atlanta hasn't been playing well enough to justify laying double-digits with them right now.
Jay Sanin
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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