This was a pass game for me unless Clint Capela was playing for the Hawks -- he is. Thus, Atlanta has the size to at least give Nikola Jokic some trouble, especially with former lottery pick Onyeka Okongwu (right shoulder surgery) making his season debut. Denver is also a bit thin on the bench with a few guys out injured/COVID. The Hawks used to be invincible at home but have dropped five straight there, I know. That's a fluke.

The beat-up Nuggets beat the healthy Hawks by nine in Denver earlier this year, and Atlanta will be worse off this time around. Atlanta's down Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) and De'Andre Hunter (wrist). Clint Capela (illness) is questionable after Wednesday's visit with the Magic, and Orlando placed five players in health and safety protocols on Friday. If the reigning MVP matches up against Onyeka Okongwu (shoulder) in his 2021-22 debut instead of a quality starter, the Nuggets should run away with this game.

The Hawks are on a five-game losing skid at home, while the Nuggets just lost Wednesday at home to the Timberwolves. The Nuggets and Hawks are both .500 teams, at 14-14. The Nuggets have been injury-plagued all season and started the season with an attempt to slow the game down. But losing changed the objective, and Nikola Jokic has been pushing the tempo recently. The Over has cashed in Denver's last five games, 12 of its last 13 and 14 of its last 16. Over is the play.