Docs Website

54 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

NBA Betting: Atlanta Hawks Season Long Handicapping 4/3/2026 vs. Brooklyn Nets

by Spencer Toth - 4/3/2026

NBA betting Atlanta Hawks season long handicapping vs Brooklyn Nets Nic Claxton

All season long, Doc’s Sports will be breaking down every Atlanta Hawks game this season, with free best bets given out along the way. After last night, our season profit has eclipsed the 100-unit mark. It has been an excellent season, but the job is far from finished as the Hawks buckle up for a potentially deep playoff run. 

On Wednesday night, the Atlanta Hawks took down the Orlando Magic 130-101. They jumped out to a 72-54 lead at halftime after scoring 47 points in the second quarter, capped off by a Jalen Johnson buzzer beater to close out the half. Nickeil Alexander-Walker posted a career-high 41 points last time these two teams met, and he had another excellent night with 32 points on an efficient 11-for-16 from the floor. Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson each scored 15+ points with 13+ rebounds, as the Hawks dominated nearly every aspect of the game. The Hawks’ three-point defense was a key factor, holding the Magic to 6-for-32 from behind the arc after forcing several contested shots late in the clock. 

Doc’s Sports offers NBA expert picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

From a betting perspective, we had a 4-1 night. We laid the -4.5 points with the Hawks on the spread to kick things off, which cashed easily. We also targeted a favorable matchup for Alexander-Walker, taking his 20+ points prop at plus money, while tailing both 3+ and 4+ threes. He finished with 32 points and five threes. Finally, we fell short on Zaccharie Risacher’s points + rebounds prop. The line was at 10.5, and he finished with seven contributions in 13 minutes on the court. 

Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks (44-33) head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets (18-58). Brooklyn has been tanking all season, and this is a great opportunity for the Hawks to add to their 18-3 record since the NBA All-Star break. However, the last time these two met, the Hawks came in as massive -15.5 point favorites and edged out a 108-97 victory after being tied late in the fourth quarter. 

Brooklyn is a team that is easy to underestimate, as they aren’t playing meaningful basketball and have lost 11 of their last 12 games. While they don’t win often and are heavily banged up, they still have a roster full of young talent looking to carve out a roster spot for next season. Michael Porter Jr., Day’Ron Sharpe, Danny Wolf, and Egor Demin will all miss this matchup due to injury, leaving Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton as the leading scorers for the Nets. Clowney only averages 12.3 PPG, the most among available players, but the heart and soul of the Nets is Claxton at center. Claxton has the ability to cause havoc in the paint and has very good shot selection with excellent ball security for a traditional center. Onyeka Okongwu will have his work cut out for him down low, but the Hawks' advantages on the perimeter still have them in a great position to pick up a comfortable victory.
Atlanta is emerging as a real threat in the Eastern Conference, as they are the hottest team in the league and are fully healthy with the playoffs quickly approaching. Their playoff spot isn’t yet secured, but with a 1.5-game lead over the 7th-place 76ers and a soft schedule down the stretch, Atlanta is in a great spot to avoid the play-in tournament. 

There is a lot to like about the Hawks right now. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the frontrunner for Most Improved Player, while Johnson was right at the top of that list for long stretches this year. After Dyson Daniels won the award last season, the Hawks are suddenly full of vastly improved players who are yet to become household names around the league. The world watched as the Indiana Pacers pulled off upset after upset to reach the NBA Finals last year, and Atlanta has the same archetype of a team that can pull off a similar feat. Johnson hits big shots in the clutch while facilitating the Hawks' offense; Daniels has turned into a two-way player after making a name for himself on the defensive end, while Alexander-Walker has doubled his points tally from last season. Once you add in Okongwu’s offensive development with his three-point shot, CJ McCollum’s consistent offensive play, and a bench featuring Risacher and Jonathan Kuminga, it isn’t surprising to see Atlanta making waves in the East. 

The Hawks come into this one as massive -16.5 point favorites, but that isn’t a line we can touch. The Nets like to slow down the pace, lock in on defense, and even their offensive struggles may not be enough for Atlanta to cover the massive number. The Hawks have the Knicks and a pair of games against the Cavs up next, so this feels like a ‘win and get out’ situation rather than one where they run up the score. 

Instead, we will take the game to stay under 225.5 points for our first bet of the night. The Nets have been held under 100 points in 8 of their last 11 games and should be right around that number again tonight. Atlanta has been on fire on the offensive end, with 8 of their last 11 seeing them score 120+ points, but they are due for a bit of shooting regression from behind the arc. This team is full of shooters, but expecting them to stay above 40% from behind the arc is not a trend we can bank on. 

For the next bet, we will take Okongwu to have a big night on the glass with over 7.5 rebounds at -130 odds. Claxton is a force in the paint, but his rebounding numbers are nothing spectacular, and Okongwu should be positioned close to the hoop for long stretches tonight. We will also sprinkle on 10+ rebounds, but instead of taking the +185 odds, we will make it +240 with his double-double prop. Okongwu has collected at least ten points in 16 of his 19 10+ rebound games this year, and the boosted odds with a soft interior defensive matchup make it worth the extra risk. 

Pick: Hawks vs Nets Under 225.5 2 Units

Pick: Onyeka Okongwu Over 7.5 Rebounds -130 3 Units

Pick: Onyeka Okongwu Double Double +240 1 Unit

2025-26 Season Record:
Moneyline: 16-6

Spread: 21-18

Total: 3-10

Player Props: 63-31

Overall: 104-64

Total Units: Up 100.8 Units 

Get NBA picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent NBA Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers