Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Dec. 25, 2021

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

NBA Christmas Day action will kick things off on Saturday afternoon with a showdown in the Big Apple between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks. Coverage begins from Madison Square Garden at 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Score Prediction

Knicks 109, Hawks 105

Best Bets

Hawks +7 (-110) at WynnBet

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Predictions

After finishing fourth in the East with a record of 41-31 last year, New York briefly kept that same ball rolling with an excellent start to this season, as the Knicks opened with an impressive 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS run– which included tough victories over the Sixers, Celtics, and Bulls.

New York has seemingly lost its magic touch by now though, considering the Knicks are just 9-17 SU and ATS across the last 26 games – despite being favored in 13 of those contests.

On the other hand, Atlanta stumbled out to an incredibly underwhelming start to the season, as the Hawks kicked things off with a disappointing 4-9 SU and 3-10 ATS skid – with seven of those SU losses coming by nine points or more.

Atlanta quickly bounced back from its opening skid though, considering the Hawks enter Saturday’s matchup 11-7 SU and 10-8 ATS across the last 18 games – despite sitting at 1-4 SU across their last five.

I’ll lay the point with the Knicks, as New York and Atlanta have both been through the wringer lately, with the Hawks sitting at 2-4 SU and ATS across their last six, and the Knicks sitting at 2-6 SU and ATS across their last eight – but my gut reaction is New York at home here.

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Betting Odds

• Knicks -290
• Hawks +230
• Knicks -7 (-110)
• Hawks +7 (-110)
• Over 211 (-110)
• Under 211 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Betting Resources

• Matchup: Southeast vs. Atlantic
• Date: Saturday, December 25, 2021
• Venue: Madison Square Garden
• Location: New York, New York
• TV-Time: ESPN - 12:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report

Atlanta Hawks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 14-16
• ATS: 12-18
• O/U: 15-15

Atlanta was somewhat of an afterthought heading into last year’s postseason, considering the Nets (+105), Sixers (+270), Bucks (+350), and Heat (+1300) were all given drastically better odds than the Hawks (+3000) to win the conference.

They ended up falling just short in the conference finals, but the Hawks still undeniably blossomed into legitimate threats in the East along their impressive playoff run, considering Atlanta dominated the Knicks in a five-game set in the first round – and then stunned the top-seeded Sixers in the second.

Expecting Trae Young and company to contend at such a high level consistently seems to be a losing wager though, considering it appears Atlanta only reached last year’s ECF due to a set of favorable health circumstances – but with every team’s injury report in the gutter right now, the Hawks blend in with the rest of the pack in the East.

New York Knicks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 14-17
• ATS: 13-18
• O/U: 14-17

New York’s overwhelming success may have been the league’s biggest surprise last year, as the Knicks finished fourth in the East with an impressive tally of 41-31 – earning much-needed homecourt advantage over Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the Knicks’ valiant regular-season effort didn’t blossom into anything noteworthy, considering New York was completely outmatched by Atlanta at both ends of the floor during a five-game gentleman’s sweep in the opening round.

The Knicks have been outmatched by nearly everybody as of late though, considering New York enters Christmas Day 3-9 SU and 4-8 ATS across the last 12 games – while scoring just 105 PPG across that stretch.

(AP) The Hawks are 3-6 ATS across their last nine games.

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Head-to-Head

Despite Atlanta getting the best of New York during the postseason, the Knicks have still won four straight regular-season matchups against the Hawks – with all three of last year’s events soaring over the total at an average of 240 PPG, while this year’s lone matchup stayed well under (99-90).

Key Players to Watch

• ATL: John Collins - PF (17.6 PPG, 8 REB, 2.1 AST)
• ATL: Bogdan Bogdanovic -SG (11.3 PPG, 3.5 REB, 2.4 AST)
• NYK: Kemba Walker - PG (13 PPG, 3 REB, 3.2 AST)
• NYK: Julius Randle - PF (19.6 PPG, 9.8 REB, 5.2 AST)

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Betting Conclusion

After losing a third straight game on Thursday night, the Hawks travel to the Big Apple on Christmas Day as narrow road underdogs against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden – marking the sixth time New York has been an underdog across the last eight games.

I’ll lay the point with the Knicks here, as both of these teams have struggled recently, with Atlanta sitting at 2-4 SU and New York at 2-4 SU across the last six games – but when push comes to shove in this matchup, the Knicks should ultimately prevail in the MSG spotlight on Christmas Day.

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Betting Trends

• The Hawks are 3-6 ATS across their last nine games.
• The Knicks are 2-6 ATS across their last eight games.
• The total has gone UNDER in four of the last six Hawks' games.
• The total has gone OVER in eight of the last 12 Knicks' games.

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