Hawks vs. Knicks Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

May 23, 2021

by Jonathan Willis
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Big Apple is buzzing about the New York Knicks. They are in the postseason for the first time in eight seasons, and the city is ready for playoff basketball again. New York fans have been some of the most discouraged over the last decade, but head coach Tom Thibodeau has reinvigorated this moribund franchise.

The Knicks have taken his defensive mantras to heart, and that will lead to a very fun playoff series against the high-flying Atlanta Hawks.

Hawks vs. Knicks Betting Resources

Matchup: Eastern Conference Playoffs
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Location: New York, New York
Date: Sunday, May 23, 2021
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Hawks vs. Knicks

Line Movements

Subject to Change

Spread: Knicks -1.5
Money-Line: New York -120, Atlanta +100
Total: 215

New York was two games under .500 in early April. The Knicks seemed likely to have to take part in the Play-In Tournament at that point, but they proceeded to run off a ton of wins. They won nine straight games to move ahead of the other teams jostling in the standings, and they went 16-4 over their final 20 games overall.

New York's four losses were to Phoenix (twice), Denver, and the Los Angeles Lakers, and this team didn’t lose to a non-playoff team after March.

The Knicks needed to win their last three games to win a tiebreaker with the Hawks for the No. 4 seed and home court advantage in this series. They edged San Antonio and then outlasted Charlotte in overtime at the start of the weekend. New York still needed to beat Boston in its last game though.

Although the Celtics didn’t have Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, they were still a game foe. They played good defense and limited the Knicks’ offense, as Julius Randle went 5-of-17 for 20 points. Fortunately, Alec Burks, R.J. Barrett, and Reggie Bullock did enough in a grueling 96-92 win.

Atlanta’s turnaround started just before the All-Star Break. The Hawks were 14-20 and fired Lloyd Pierce at the end of February, replacing him with former Seattle, Portland, and Indiana head coach Nate McMillan.

That proved to unlock this team’s potential, as the Hawks immediately reeled off eight straight victories. They went 27-11 under McMillan’s watch over the second half of the season.

This team closed out the season with wins in seven of its last eight games. Atlanta impressively throttled Portland and Phoenix in back-to-back games, and the Hawks ensured they would qualify for the playoffs without a need for the Play-In Tournament with consecutive victories over Washington. They cruised to wins over listless Orlando and Houston to finish the year on a high note.

The Hawks have dropped three meetings with the Knicks this season as they meet in Game 1 on Sunday. (AP)

Hawks vs. Knicks Current Form

Hawks vs. Knicks Head-to-Head

Apr. 21, 2021 - Knicks 137 vs. Hawks 127 (OT), New York +1.5, Over 219
Feb. 15, 2021 - Knicks 123 vs. Hawks 112, New York +1.5, Over 219
Jan. 4, 2021 - Knicks 113 at Hawks 108, New York +7.5, Under 223.5

The Hawks failed to beat the Knicks in any of their three meetings during the regular season. Randle was able to torch Atlanta each time they met, nearly recording a triple-double in their first game in early January.

Randle had 44 points in New York’s 123-112 win over Atlanta in mid-February, and he had 40 points in the Knicks’ overtime victory near the end of April.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Atlanta Hawks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 41-31 SU, 39-32-1 ATS, 35-37 OU
Road: 16-20 SU, 16-19-1 ATS, 19-17-1 OU

Trae Young brought the Hawks back to the playoffs this season. Young is one of the most exciting offensive players in the league. He led Atlanta with 25.3 PPG and 9.4 APG, and his 23.05 PER was tops on the team.

Young's shooting efficiency isn’t that great, but he gets to the line often. We’ll see whether or not that holds up in the postseason as referees are more prone to swallow their whistles.

This team has a lot more talent than just Young though. John Collins is one of the best young big men in the league, averaging 17.6 PPG while making 55.6% of his field goals and 39.9% of his threes.

Adding Clint Capela allowed Collins to venture away from the paint more, and he is making opponents pay for it with his efficient shooting.

Bogdan Bogdanovic has had a great season too. Atlanta acquired him from Sacramento in the offseason, and he has been a revelation for the Hawks. He has made 47.3% of his field goals and 43.8% of his threes this season despite taking a career-high number of shots.

Bogdanovic is averaging 16.4 PPG, but he has scored at least 20 points in four straight games.

A healthy De’Andre Hunter is a big boost to the Hawks’ chances. Hunter missed several weeks due to injury, but he was able to get some playing time before the end of the regular season. He wasn’t nearly as efficient from the floor though, so that’s something to watch.

New York Knicks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 41-31 SU, 45-26-1 ATS, 32-40 OU
Home: 25-11 SU, 22-13-1 ATS, 17-19 OU

For the Knicks to win this game and this series, Randle will need to continue to dominate the Hawks. He was one of the best players in the NBA this season, and the only truly reliable option on offense.

The do-it-all power forward led New York in points (24.1 PPG), rebounds (10.2 RPG), and assists (6.0 APG). He hit 45.6% of his field goals and 41.1% of his threes while playing superb defense.

All the top scorers did a good job of knocking down their perimeter looks. Barrett, Burks, Bullock, and Derrick Rose all hit at least 40% of their threes, while Immanuel Quickley hit 38.9% of his treys.

That was pretty much the only good thing the Knicks did on offense, as they ranked third in three-point shooting and in the bottom ten in almost every other offensive category.

Defensively, the Knicks were elite. They led the league in scoring defense (104.7 PPG), and they had the best defensive shooting percentage (44.0%) and three-point percentage (33.7%) in the NBA too. New York did a great job of closing out on perimeter shooters, and that’s needed against Young and the Hawks.

Key Injuries

Atlanta Hawks

SF Danilo Gallinari: Back - Questionable
PG Kris Dunn: Ankle - Questionable
C Clint Capela: Achilles - Questionable
SG Bogdan Bogdanovic: Hamstring - Questionable
SF Cam Reddish: Achilles - Out

New York Knicks

C Mitchell Robinson: Foot - Out