The New York Knicks (50-28) and Atlanta Hawks (45-33) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. The game will broadcast live on Peacock.
The Hawks are 1.5-point favorites over the Knicks on the spread (Hawks -1.5), with the over/under set at 228.5 total points. Atlanta is a -120 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New York is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Knicks vs. Hawks predictions and NBA picks for Monday, April 6.
Knicks vs Hawks Prediction, Pick
- Knicks vs Hawks pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 Points (-125)
My Hawks vs. Knicks best bet is on Nickeil Alexander-Walker to score over 18.5 points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Knicks vs Hawks Odds
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 228.5 -115o / -105u | +100 |
| Hawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 228.5 -115o / -105u | -120 |
Knicks vs Hawks NBA Preview
The Knicks are almost fully locked into the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference, but there's a chance a lot changes over the course of today.
Entering Monday, the Knicks stand a game ahead of the Cavaliers for the 3-seed. With a Knicks loss against the Hawks and a Cavs win in Memphis against the Grizzlies, the two teams would be tied for third, although the Knicks still own the tiebreaker.
Now, you might argue that being the 4-seed would be more beneficial, drawing a matchup against a less experienced Pistons team in Round 2, as opposed to the Celtics — but neither option sets up for a cakewalk to the semis regardless. Neither team is consistent enough to assume any smooth sailing moving forward.
As for Atlanta, the Hawks are getting more comfortable in fifth place. They are two games ahead of both the Raptors and 76ers — and they are four games behind Cleveland.
Two of Atlanta's remaining games are against Cleveland, so that tiebreaker is undetermined, but chances are the Hawks are as high as they'll go right now.
This means that Cleveland vs. Atlanta might not only happen these two times prior to the regular season's conclusion, but we also have a decent chance of this being our 4-vs-5 series in the East.
As for tonight, here's your injury report: The Knicks have a fully clean report. Atlanta does too, minus Jock Landale's absence (ankle).
Knicks vs Hawks Predictions, Betting Analysis
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has gone over both 18.5 and 19.5 points in 13-of-16 games — and he went over in both games he played against the Knicks this season.
Guards can thrive against this Knicks defense, whether it's because you get Jalen Brunson as your primary cover or on a switch, or because of Mikal Bridges' on-ball struggles, or being able to get Karl-Anthony Towns in space, and so on.
Even with CJ McCollum, NAW is still getting buckets with volume, taking at least 13 field goal attempts in all but three of his last 16 games, while also averaging 4.5 free throw attempts, where he's shooting 90% for the season — and nearly eight three-point attempts per contest, where he's at 39% for the year, but 48% since March 2.
Pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 18.5 Points (-125)
