8* Atlanta (9:05 ET): Two of the league’s most improved teams are set to collide on Wednesday as the Suns host the Hawks. Early on, the Hawks were REALLY flying high as they got off to a 4-1 SU/ATS start. But then they crashed back down with four consecutive losses - two of them vs. Charlotte - and all as favorites. Monday saw them bounce back with a much needed 112-94 win over East-leading Philadelphia. Now they are back in a role they are much more comfortable in, that being an underdog, and I’ll grab the points.

It really was too bad Phoenix didn’t make the playoffs last season. Pun intended, the Suns were the hottest team in the league at the start of the bubble as they won/covered all eight “seeding” games. That “momentum” (hate that word) seemed to carry over to the start of this season as they began 5-1 SU/ATS. But similar to the Hawks, there’s been some “giving back” of late as the team has lost three of five including recent road losses to Detroit and Washington. Monday’s loss to the Wizards was probably their worst game of the season.

The Hawks are 3-0 ATS as underdogs this season, which includes an outright win at Brooklyn on New Year’s Day. I look for this to be a really competitive game and would want to be on the underdog either way. The teams grade out fairly evenly from a net efficiency perspective and with the Suns playing at the slowest pace in the league right now, points could be at a premium. They shot just 4 of 27 from three-point range Monday against a very bad defensive team. Take the points. 8* Atlanta