The New York Knicks (1-2) and Atlanta Hawks (2-1) will square off in a critical Game 4 in the first round of the NBA playoffs tonight. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The game will broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
The Knicks are 2.5-point favorites over the Hawks on the spread (Knicks -2.5), with the over/under set at 214.5 total points. New York is a -130 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Atlanta is +110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Knicks vs. Hawks predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, April 25.
Knicks vs Hawks Prediction
- Knicks vs Hawks pick: Josh Hart Over 13.5 Rebounds & Assists (-120)
My Knicks vs Hawks Game 4 best bet is on Josh Hart to combine for over 13.5 rebounds & assists. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Knicks vs Hawks Game 4 Odds
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -102 | 214.5 -110o / -110u | -130 |
| Hawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -118 | 214.5 -110o / -110u | +110 |
Knicks vs Hawks NBA Playoffs Game 4 Preview
New York Knicks Betting Preview, Analysis
This feels like a "don’t overthink it" spot. We saw Karl-Anthony Towns finally wake up on the glass in Game 3—he grabbed 17 boards after being stuck at eight in each of the first two games—and while that's great for New York, I’m not sure I can trust KAT to maintain that level of consistent physicality every single night.
If the Knicks are going to win this game—and let’s be clear, they absolutely need to win this to keep the season from slipping away—they have to dominate the glass.
If I’m betting on grit and motor, I’m betting on Josh Hart.
Atlanta Hawks Betting Preview, Analysis
In this series, Hart has been absolute chaos for the Hawks to deal with. He’s currently averaging 18 rebounds & assists per game through the first three contests.
Think about that for a second: we are getting a line at 13.5 for a guy who is clearing that by nearly five units on average right now. He is like a piranha in a fishbowl out there.
When the stakes are this high and the season is on the line, the Knicks aren't looking toward their bench; they are leaning on the guys they trust.
Hart is actually averaging more minutes than Jalen Brunson right now (by a razor-thin margin). The Knicks simply cannot afford to keep him sidelined for long stretches, and when he's on the floor, he's involved in every single play.
Knicks vs Hawks Pick, Betting Analysis
What really stood out to me was his performance in Game 3. Hart only scored two points the entire night. Most players who have a "bad game" offensively would see their overall production dip, but not Hart.
He still played 40 minutes, hauled in nine rebounds, and stayed active in the playmaking department. Part of that high minute total was because Mikal Bridges really struggled to find his rhythm, forcing New York to ride the hot hand early.
Hart is the ultimate safety net for New York's coaching staff. If the starters are clanking shots, Hart is the one crashing the offensive glass to save the possession.
I also love the way he starts these games. In the last outing, he had seven rebounds almost immediately. He doesn't wait for the game to come to him; he hunts the ball from the opening tip.
The market is starting to catch on—we’ve seen his individual rebounding prop jump from 7.5 to 8.5—which is why I think attacking the Rebounds & Assists combo is the smarter play here. It gives you multiple paths to victory.
If the Hawks try to sell out to stop him from crashing the boards, he’s more than capable of finding the open man in transition or on the perimeter.
This is a volume and effort play. We are getting a guy who is going to play 40-plus minutes, who is the heart and soul of the Knicks' hustle plays, and he's already shown that his floor in this series is right around where this line is currently set.
With the Knicks facing a must-win scenario in Game 4 against Atlanta today, expect peak desperation from New York in this spot.
I don’t think the Hawks have an answer for Hart's motor, and 13.5 R+A is just too low for a player with this kind of usage.
Pick: Josh Hart Over 13.5 Rebounds & Assists (-120)
