The Atlanta Hawks (16-19) and New York Knicks (23-10) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Knicks are 6.5-point favorites over the Hawks on the spread (Knicks -6.5), with the over/under set at 244.5 total points. New York is a -265 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while the Hawks are +215 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hawks vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks for Friday, January 2.
Hawks vs Knicks Prediction, Picks
- Hawks vs Knicks pick: Jalen Brunson Over 38.5 Points + Assists (-113)
My Knicks vs Hawks best bet is on Jalen Brunson Over 38.5 Points + Assists, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hawks vs Knicks Odds
| Hawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -108 | 244.5 -115o / -105u | +215 |
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -112 | 244.5 -115o / -105u | -265 |
Hawks vs Knicks NBA Preview
Since the Hawks knocked out the Knicks in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, Trae Young has not been particularly popular in New York.
However, it has been the Knicks who have had the last laugh. The Knicks have won seven of the last 10 meetings, including each of the last four in the last calendar year.
Of the last four matchups, each of them had a total of at least 239 points, with two of the games landing over. Tonight's total will be the highest yet at 244.5 points.
The Knicks won the last meeting last Saturday, 128-125. That is also the last time Young played, and he is questionable for tonight's game.
The Knicks' All-Star duo led the way in that victory as Karl-Anthony Towns had 36 points and 15 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson had 34 points and 5 assists.
New York will be looking to get back in the win column after losing a fourth-quarter lead slip away in San Antonio. However, they have still won seven of their last 10 games and are sitting 1.5 games back of the Pistons, who they will take on Monday night.
For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson had 20 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists, nearly missing another triple-double.
Johnson has six triple-doubles on the year, and he has missed six more by either one rebound or assist. He is averaging 24 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.
Kristaps Porzingis missed the last matchup but returned on Wednesday afternoon against Minnesota after missing nearly a month.
Tonight, he returns to New York, where he played the first three years of his career. Porzingis has averaged 22.4 points per game in his last seven matchups against his former team, but his minutes may remain capped tonight.
Hawks vs Knicks Prediction, Betting Analysis
In December, Brunson averaged 30.6 points and 7.1 assists per game. He recorded 37 points and assists in nine of those 14 games, including each of his last five games.
Against Miami, Brunson scored his high at Madison Square Garden with 47 points, and he will be looking for another big performance back home against a Hawks team he has feasted on of late.
In his last three games against the Hawks, Brunson is averaging 34.7 points and 6.3 assists. Brunson has recorded 39 PA or more in each of those games, while the Hawks are 29th in PA allowed to point guards. I like Brunson to be aggressive tonight, coming off a loss.
Johnson has recorded 40+ PRA in eight of his last 10 games and four of his last five games against the Knicks.
A few of his assists may set up Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has knocked down three triples in each of his last three games. That includes five against the Knicks, who are 27th in 3-pointers allowed.
Pick: Jalen Brunson Over 38.5 Points + Assists (-113, DraftKings)
Hawks vs Knicks Parlay Picks
- Jalen Brunson 35+ Points + Assists
- Jalen Johnson 40+ Points + Rebounds + Assists
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 Made Threes
Parlay Odds: +280 (DraftKings)
