NBA Betting: Atlanta Hawks Season Long Handicapping 2/5/2026 vs. Utah Jazz

You have found the right place for all your NBA betting needs, as Doc’s Sports will be breaking down every Atlanta Hawks game from now until the end of the season. By analyzing how the Hawks' roster matches up with their opponents, we have been able to generate a consistent profit throughout the season. We are up nearly 40 units so far this season, but the job is far from over…
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On Tuesday night, the Atlanta Hawks took down the Miami Heat 127-115. The Heat were without Norman Powell due to a late scratch, which really hurt their deep ball as they finished 8-for-32 from behind the arc. The Hawks took a 17-point lead into halftime before cruising to victory, as they were responsible with the basketball and were able to mitigate the Heat’s size advantage on the glass. Jalen Johnson posted a 29-point triple-double for the second straight game, while CJ McCollum poured in 26 points in 26 minutes off the bench.
From a betting perspective, we had a perfect 3-0 night. We cashed the Hawks moneyline at +135, as they were being disrespected against a disjointed Heat side. In the player prop department, we took Johnson to go over 1.5 threes; he finished 3-for-6. We also took Zaccharie Risacher to stay under 1.5 threes; he finished 1-for-2. We correctly identified that Risacher would be limited after his injury; he played only 22 minutes, while Johnson would look to draw Adebayo and Ware away from the hoop whenever possible.
Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks (25-27) have a great chance to pick up a second straight win, as they host the Utah Jazz (16-35) at State Farm Arena. The NBA trade deadline is today at 4 PM EST, and both of these teams have already made moves this week. The Jazz acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. in a shocking trade, sending away Walter Clayton, Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and three first-round picks to Memphis. Utah also received John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr, but none of them will suit up tonight. This leaves the Jazz very shorthanded while the trade processes are ongoing, which gives the Hawks a real shot at clawing back ground in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament race.
For Atlanta, they pulled off a blockbuster of their own, trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. First of all, this is great business from the Hawks. Their lack of size on the inside is a concern, but promising play from Onyeka Okongwu and Mouhammed Gueye, combined with Jalen Johnson’s power-forward rebounding, has them in a good spot down low. Additionally, Porzingis has missed 35 games due to injury while only playing 17, so it is not as if the Hawks have been leaning on him for minutes.
Coming to Atlanta is a shooting forward (something they have been missing) and a shooter who can play a role off the bench. Kuminga is the prettier piece of this trade, as the 23-year-old is still improving, and the Hawks got him for a rock-bottom price. His percentages in the paint and at the free-throw line has declined since his first few seasons in the league, but that is natural as his minutes climbed. His volume scoring has never declined, and it is clear that Kuminga wants to be a key part of a contender and won’t accept a lesser role. His locker room issues could be a factor, but all in all, a healthy Kuminga is much better than an injured Porzingis. Buddy Hield will also have a role to play, as his Iron Man availability will ensure he stays in the rotation throughout the season. He isn’t getting younger at 33 years old, but Hield is still a microwave scorer who will gel nicely alongside the other Hawks shooters.
Luke Kennard’s departure to the Los Angeles Lakers for Gabe Vincent won’t have an impact on Hield’s minutes, as both are deep rotation players who are virtually a 1-1 swap on the bench. Kennard’s historic three-point shooting will be missed, but the Hawks clearly felt as though they had enough other shooters to pull the trigger.
Neither Kuminga, Hield, or Vincent will play tonight, but the Hawks still have more than enough depth to take care of the Jazz. Utah is a one-man show with Lauri Markkanen leading the team on the offensive end. Markkanen’s 27.4 PPG is the 8th most in the NBA, and he’s the only player in the top 10 currently not in a playoff spot. Utah’s thin depth has temporarily gotten even worse with their 8-player trade pending, but a flurry of moves from Atlanta will help level the playing field.
Regardless of the fact that today is the NBA trade deadline, this is still a crucial game for the Hawks. Home games against the worst teams in the league are all but must-wins, especially when battling for a playoff spot. Eight of the top ten players in this matchup play for Atlanta, including the only All-Star, Jalen Johnson. Johnson appears to be on a triple-double mission each night, and lackluster defense from Utah will give him another opportunity to stuff the stat sheet.
The Hawks are big -9.5 point favorites with a sky-high 242.5 point over/under. This kind of spread and total may be unfamiliar to Atlanta, but it is exactly what the Jazz have gotten used to in recent weeks. Utah has closed as a 6+ point underdog in seven of its last nine games, going 4-5 against the spread. They haven’t seen a closing total below 230 points since the first game of the season, yet have still gone 31-20 to the over this year.
For the first bet of the night, we will take the over on the Hawks team total at 126.5. This may initially seem high, but the Jazz have the worst defensive rating in the NBA by a wide margin, and play at the third-fastest pace. This will give the Hawks 110+ possessions against the worst defense in the league, which should allow them to easily clear this line.
Normally, we would add in some player props, but with it being NBA trade deadline day, we don’t know exactly what either lineup will look like when tipoff rolls around. The Hawks have already traded two key figures in the last 12 hours, and there could still be more moves to come. I am confident that whatever rotation steps onto the court for Atlanta, they can clear this line, and there is no need to force anything else. The season won’t be won or lost on any one game, and sometimes the best bet is to simply stay away.
Pick: Atlanta Hawks Team Total Over 126.5 4 Units
2025-26 Season Record:
Moneyline: 11-5
Spread: 16-16
Total: 2-9
Player Props: 36-19
Overall: 66-48
Total Units: Up 39.4 Units
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