The Hawks weren’t kind to their betting backers this season.
Atlanta finished the regular season 29-53 against the spread, a historically bad figure for a team looking to advance in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls.
The Hawks’ ATS record is the second-worst over a full season in the past 30 years, beating out only the 2003-04 Orlando Magic, according to Evan Abrams of Action Network.
Their 35.4 percent cover rate was 7.6 percentage points behind the Brooklyn Nets, who were next-worst team against the spread this season.
The team had multiple stretches of miserable basketball for those who put their money behind them.
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During one run from early November to mid-December, the Hawks lost 15 of 17 games on the spread.
And they didn’t finish the season much better, failing to cover in six of their final seven games.
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on April 12, 2024 in Minneapolis. Getty Images Atlanta’s play-in berth overshadows what has been a disappointing season for the Hawks.
Finishing 36-46 in a weak Eastern Conference, the Hawks finished 6.5 wins below their preseason over/under, which sat at 42.5 wins at most major sportsbooks.
It’s the third straight season the Hawks have finished below their preseason win total, per Sports Odds History.
They will now have to win two straight road games during the Eastern Conference play-in tournament to make the postseason after opening the season at -225 to make the playoffs, which were the seventh-best odds in the East at BetMGM Sportsbook.
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The Hawks are a 3.5-point underdog against the Bulls in Chicago during the 9-10 game of the East play-in tournament on Wednesday night.
If they can upset the Bulls, the Hawks would play the loser of Wednesday’s 76ers-Heat bout during the play-in for the No. 8 seed in the conference and a date with the NBA-best Boston Celtics.
They are currently a +650 long shot to get out of the play-in tournament, which are the longest odds of any team in either conference.
