Atlanta's pressure meets a Houston attack changing the way it reaches its best scorers. Denver and New Orleans present a related contest between clean entries, interior receivers and scoring after substitutions. In both matches, the first successful action matters only when the next pass produces another usable chance.
Daniels and Alexander-Walker can challenge Houston's initial delivery, while Johnson gives Atlanta a passer who can turn recovered balls into early offense. Sengun and Durant remain productive targets for Houston, so the key matchup begins before they receive. Atlanta also has shooting through McCollum and Alexander-Walker and a passing connection through Landale in reserve minutes.
VanVleet and Adams are reported unavailable after playing Houston's preceding game. VanVleet supplied five assists without a turnover, while Smart's reserve appearance produced one assist and three turnovers. Atlanta's core enters from lighter minutes, supporting repeated pressure through the middle quarters. Its late shooting against Orlando supplies another way to finish a close game. That's why I'm siding with Atlanta to win.
Denver can work through Jokic's catches and Gordon's cuts, while New Orleans has Williamson attacking the paint and Dejounte Murray directing the next action. Denver's possession losses against Oklahoma City give the Pelicans' active guards a specific delivery chain to challenge. New Orleans also showed scoring from both its main group and its replacement centers against Utah.
Johnson's confirmed absence removes Denver spacing. Missi's knee injury leaves his participation unresolved, but Queen and Matkovic already supplied interior finishes after he left the Utah game. That gives New Orleans a scoring route through the substitution phases as well as through Williamson and Murray. I expect Denver to create interior chances and the Pelicans to keep finding responses, which is why I'm siding with New Orleans to stay within reach.
