Pelicans vs. Hawks prediction: Why Atlanta is favored to win Wednesday's NBA game [1/7/2026]

The Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans will lock horns in NBA action at State Farm Arena on Wednesday, with tipoff at 7:30 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulations and today’s injury updates, Dimers' proven NBA model predicts the Hawks as the most likely winner of the Pelicans vs. Hawks game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Hawks lineup will feature players like Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kristaps Porzingis, while the Pelicans will rely on Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Wednesday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Pelicans vs. Hawks prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Wednesday's NBA game between the Pelicans and Hawks 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model gives the Hawks a 78% chance of beating the Pelicans. Our predicted final score has the Hawks winning 126-117.

According to our model, the Pelicans (+10.5) have a 55% chance of covering the spread, while the 245.5-point over/under has a 55% chance of staying under.

Pelicans vs. Hawks odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Pelicans	Hawks
Spread	+10.5 (-110)	-10.5 (-110)
Moneyline	+350	-440
Total	o245.5 (-112)	u245.5 (-106)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Pelicans vs. Hawks picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Pelicans +10.5	-110
Moneyline	Pelicans	+350
Total	Under 245.5	-106

According to our best NBA bets for Wednesday, the top play to make on this game is Under 245.5 total points.

Pelicans vs. Hawks player props

Looking for New Orleans vs. Atlanta NBA prop bets? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at State Farm Arena.

Zion Williamson is expected to lead the Pelicans with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while Jalen Johnson is projected to have 25 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists for the Hawks.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Pelicans prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Pelicans are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Zion Williamson	26	7	5	0	48
Jordan Poole	20	3	4	3	35
Jeremiah Fears	17	4	4	1	33
Derik Queen	15	8	5	0	38
Jordan Hawkins	10	3	1	2	18

Hawks prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Hawks:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Jalen Johnson	25	11	9	2	59
N. Alexander-Walker	22	4	4	3	39
K. Porzingis	16	5	2	2	31
Dyson Daniels	13	7	7	1	39
Z. Risacher	13	3	2	2	24

Pelicans vs. Hawks game-day updates and essential details

Wednesday's matchup between the Hawks and Pelicans at State Farm Arena is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM ET.

• Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Atlanta Hawks
• Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM ET/4:30PM PT
• Venue: State Farm Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Hawks, with a 78% win probability, will likely beat the Pelicans on Wednesday, with Jalen Johnson projected for a game-high 59 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Pelicans vs. Hawks insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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