The stakes are high as the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks battle for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference during the NBA Play-In Tournament. With the winner set to face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, both teams are vying for a crucial playoff berth. The Hawks come into this matchup as slight favorites, having finished the regular season with a 40-42 record, while the Heat ended at 37-45. Atlanta suffered a defeat against the Orlando Magic, and Miami overcame the Chicago Bulls, setting the stage for this pivotal encounter. Trae Young is under scrutiny following his recent altercation with an official, yet he remains a key player to watch, especially as he faces a Heat squad against whom he struggled this season.

Both teams have had mixed performances throughout the season, with their head-to-head meetings resulting in a split series. Young’s scoring prop is set at 25.5, but his average has dipped this year, prompting the betting model to lean towards the under. On the other side, Tyler Herro appears primed for a strong outing with a similar points prop. As the matchup approaches, fans and bettors alike are keen to see how these star players perform under pressure.