NBA odds are backing Cleveland in the second game of their second-round playoff series with Atlanta, and they’ll look to their MVP to have another huge game. Meanwhile, the Hawks are counting on their All-Star player to have a much better game.

Hawks vs Cavaliers odds – Thursday, May 7, 8:00 PM ET

Joe Johnson had only 11 points in Game 1’s 99-72 beating at the hands of the Cavaliers, as he shot a decent 5-of-10 from the field, but he also didn’t have one single free-throw attempt. Josh Smith led the way with 22 points, while Mike Bibby had 19, and Smith was the only Atlanta player that looked like he wanted to challenge the Cleveland defense. The Hawks shot 43.8% from the floor, but they can’t afford another 17 turnovers against this Cleveland team.

LeBron James celebrated his first MVP award with an MVP-type performance, going for 34 points, 10 boards and four steals, and he shot an outstanding 12-of-20 from the field. Mo Williams added 21 points, while Cleveland’s bench outscored their Atlanta counterparts 20-10. The Cavaliers locked the Hawks down on defense in the second half, outscoring them 50-28 after halftime, and they enjoyed a +8 edge on the glass, including a 15-6 advantage on the offensive boards.

NBA odds have the Cavs as a 12.5-point favorite at home, where they continue to destroy the competition. You could tell the Cavaliers were a bit rusty in the first half, especially on defense, as they completed their four-game sweep of Detroit back on April 26. The Cavaliers have now won their five playoff games by an average margin of 19.8 points, and the Hawks will just be trying to avoid another rout. Johnson, and the Hawks as a whole, need to follow Smith’s lead and be as aggressive as they can, and when they get to the foul line, they need to improve at taking their chances as they were a miserable 9-of-18 from the charity stripe. As for stopping James, well, that’s not going to happen, but they can do a better job on Williams and Delonte West, who had 13 points and nine assists in Game 1. However, it’s not very likely that the Cavaliers will take their foot off the gas, and it looks like another long night for the Hawks. Take Cleveland and their NBA odds on Thursday night.