The set-up: The 37-35 Atlanta Hawks have lost six games in a row and sit tied with Milwaukee for the East's No. 5 seed, However, the Pacers are just one game back and the Heat only two games back. The Hawks welcome the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets (15-57) to Atlanta this afternoon, seemingly desperate for a win.

Brooklyn: The Nets are the only team in the Eastern Conference to be eliminated from the postseason but Brooklyn has played better of late, going 6-8 in March. The Nets had their modest two-game winning streak broken in a 129-108 loss at Washington on Friday. The return of PG Jeremy Lin (hamstring) after the All Star break has made a big difference. Lin did miss a game because of a sprained right ankle but has scored 13 and 14 points in the two games since his return, right at his season average (13.7 & 4.7 APG). Center Brook Lopez (20.5) was averaging 24.6 PPG during a seven-game stretch but then had just six points in the Nets' Friday loss at Washington.

Atlanta: The Hawks have been competitive in their last two losses (by a combined seven points) but they have lost NINE of 12 and need a win badly. Starters Paul Millsap (18.1 & 7.7) and Kent Bazemore (11.0) remain sidelined with knee injuries and are not expected to play Sunday. Dwight Howard is tied for sixth in the NBA with 47 double-doubles after a 20-point, 12-rebound performance against Milwaukee, and was fourth in the league in rebounding (12.8 per contest) and in field-goal percentage (63.3 percent) entering Saturday.

The pick: If not now, when for Atlanta? The Nets are a re woeful 5-30 SU on he road this season. Atlanta has won three in a row over the Nets, including both matchups this season, and owns a five-game home winning streak against Brooklyn. That said, I just CAN'T trust the Hawks and the Nets are on an 8-3 ATS run. Make Brooklyn an 8* play.