It’s been nearly nine years since the Atlanta Hawks last secured a victory in Portland, something head coach Quin Snyder hopes will change this season. The Hawks, currently 20-22, will wrap up their four-game road trip with a game against the Portland Trail Blazers (19-22) at the Moda Center on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET. Atlanta has dropped its last eight games in Portland, with their last win dating back to February 13, 2017, when they edged out the Trail Blazers 109-104 in overtime.
The Hawks began this road trip with wins over the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors but suffered a 141-116 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Portland is aiming to avoid a third straight loss after back-to-back defeats: 123-114 at home to the New York Knicks and 119-97 on the road against the Warriors.
Thursday night also features seven additional NBA games, including a notable contest between the Boston Celtics (24-15) and Miami Heat (21-19) at the Caseya Center at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Celtics have dominated recent matchups, winning seven of the last eight meetings including a 129-116 home victory and four straight wins in Miami.
In the NHL, there are 10 games lined up, including the Vancouver Canucks (16-25-5) facing the Columbus Blue Jackets (20-19-7) at Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. ET. The Canucks, who previously defeated Columbus 4-3 at home this season, are currently struggling with a eight-game winless run (0-6-2) as they wrap up a six-game road trip.
College basketball also offers a packed schedule with a Conference USA matchup between UTEP and Delaware (5-11) taking place at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Delaware, starting at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams have had a tough stretch, losing four of their last five games.
Latest NBA odds show the Hawks as 3.5-point favorites over Portland, with the Celtics favored by 2.5 points against Miami. In the NHL, the Blue Jackets are seen as -168 favorites against the Canucks, while Delaware is a 1.5-point favorite over UTEP.
Here’s a quick overview of what to catch and wager on this Thursday, January 15th:
NBA Picks:
Heat vs. Celtics
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Miami favored
- TV: NBA League Pass
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
- SportsLine Model favors Celtics at -143
- Expert Mike Varner highlights Boston guard Derrick White as key, anticipating over 9.5 rebounds and assists combined. Despite recent losses, Boston has been strong on the road, while Miami struggled before snapping a losing streak Tuesday.
Hawks vs. Trail Blazers
- Time: 10 p.m.
- Location: Portland favored
- TV: NBA League Pass
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
- SportsLine model leans Trail Blazers +3.5
- Expert Mike Varner expects Nickeil Alexander-Walker to score 20.5 points or more. Portland showed solid home form until a recent loss, and although Atlanta hasn’t won in Portland for nine tries, simulations suggest a close battle.
NHL Pick:
- Blue Jackets vs. Canucks
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Columbus favored
- TV: ESPN+
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
- SportsLine prediction favors under 6.5 goals
- Expert Matt Severance bets on Blue Jackets -1, noting Vancouver’s scoring struggles and their recent drought, which could favor Columbus finishing their road trip strong.
College Basketball:
- UTEP at Delaware
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Delaware favored
- TV: ESPN+
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
- Sporting Models predict over 127.5 combined points
- Expert Larry Hartstein supports Delaware as a 1.5-point favorite, citing UTEP’s poor road performance and losing streak.
Fan Take:
For hockey enthusiasts, the upcoming Canucks vs. Blue Jackets game is crucial as it highlights Vancouver’s ongoing offensive struggles and Columbus’s chance to capitalize at home. This matchup could influence playoff positioning and demonstrates how critical scoring depth and momentum are for teams seeking to turn their season around.
