The New York Knicks look to even the series against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. New York fell to Atlanta by a two-point margin in Game 1 when Trae Young connected on a last-second floater for the Hawks. Atlanta seized control of the series as a result, though Game 2 is again set to be played at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks were 25-11 at home during the regular season, with the Hawks finishing 16-20 on the road before the NBA Playoffs.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET in New York. William Hill Sportsbook lists the Knicks as two-point home favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 213 in the latest Hawks vs. Knicks odds. Before you make any Knicks vs. Hawks picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $800 on its top-rated picks this season and entered the first full week of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on a stunning 99-66 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating back to last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen massive returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Hawks vs. Knicks in the NBA Playoffs 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Knicks vs. Hawks:
- Hawks vs. Knicks spread: Knicks -2
- Hawks vs. Knicks over-under: 213 points
- Hawks vs. Knicks money line: Knicks -130, Hawks +110
- ATL: The Hawks are 6-4 against the spread in the last 10 games
- NYK: The Knicks are 5-5 against the spread in the last 10 games
Featured Game | New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
Why the Hawks can cover
Atlanta has more offensive firepower in this matchup and that was on display in Game 1. Young led the way with 32 points and 10 assists, to go along with the game-winner, and he averaged 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per contest in the regular season. The Hawks surround Young with high-end shooting, and Clint Capela anchors the team’s defense.
Capela led the NBA in rebounding, averaging 14.3 rebounds per game this season, and he walls off the paint with effectiveness and consistency. Atlanta’s defense can be wobbly when Capela is on the bench, but New York’s offense ranks below-average in most overall metrics. The Hawks were able to hold Julius Randle to just 6-of-23 shooting in the opener and, if they can replicate that, Atlanta could find similar overall success.
Why the Knicks can cover
Though New York struggled to contain Young in Game 1, the Knicks are an excellent defensive team. New York finished the regular season No. 4 in the NBA in defensive rating, yielding fewer than 1.08 points per possession, and the Knicks led the league in both field goal percentage allowed (44.0 percent) and 3-point percentage allowed (33.7 percent). New York is elite at preventing transition opportunities, giving up only 10.5 fast break points per game.
On the offensive end, Randle is an X-factor, as he dominated the Hawks in the regular season, only to struggle in Game 1. Randle averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in 2020-21, and he presents sky-high upside. As a team, the Knicks can also shoot the lights out from 3-point range, ranking No. 3 in the NBA and making 39.2 percent of their shots from beyond the arc this season.
How to make Knicks vs. Hawks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 217 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Hawks vs. Knicks? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.
