The New York Knicks welcome the Atlanta Hawks to Madison Square Garden to get the 2021 NBA Christmas Day schedule tipped off. The Knicks are 14-18 this season, with the Hawks entering at 15-16 for a rematch of a memorable playoff matchup earlier in 2021. Trae Young, Clint Capela and Kevin Huerter headline a bevy of players expected to miss the game for Atlanta due to health and safety protocols. Nerlens Noel, Miles McBride and Kevin Knox remain sidelined for New York in the protocols. RJ Barrett (reconditioning) is questionable for the Knicks
Caesars Sportsbook lists New York as a 6.5-point home favorite for this noon ET tipoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over-under, is 209.5 in the latest Hawks vs. Knicks odds. Before locking in any Knicks vs. Hawks picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 10 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 46-23 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $1,900. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Hawks and locked in its NBA picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Hawks vs. Knicks:
- Hawks vs. Knicks spread: Knicks -7
- Hawks vs. Knicks over-under: 209.5 points
- Hawks vs. Knicks money line: Knicks -280, Hawks +230
- ATL: The Hawks are 6-9 against the spread in road games
- NYK: The Knicks are 5-12 against the spread in home games
Featured Game | New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
Why the Hawks can cover
Atlanta’s roster is limited at the moment as a result of injury and the NBA’s health and safety protocols. However, Nate McMillan’s team is out-pacing its win-loss record in terms of advanced metrics, and the Hawks put together an impressive road over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. In that game, Atlanta relied on the offensive glass to generate efficiency on that end of the floor, with John Collins playing at an All-Star level in the frontcourt for the Hawks.
Former lottery pick Onyeka Okongwu is now back for the Hawks to provide punch at the center position, and Atlanta’s offense remains in the top five of the NBA on a per-possession basis. The Hawks are also committing fewer than 13 turnovers per game, a top-five mark in the NBA, and the Knicks are No. 27 in the NBA in forcing turnovers on defense. Atlanta has proven to be able to score, averaging more than 110 points per game, and the Hawks famously flummoxed the Knicks in a five-game playoff series win a year ago.
Why the Knicks can cover
The Knicks have the benefit of a healthier roster, in addition to home-court advantage. New York is also shooting well from 3-point range this season, connecting on 13.3 triples per game and making 36.1 percent of attempts. The Knicks are also in the top 10 in both free-throw volume and accuracy, with the Hawks bringing a bottom-10 defense in the NBA to New York. Tom Thibodeau’s team also protects the ball well, committing only 13.5 turnovers per game, which should help the Knicks to perform well on defense by avoiding transition opportunities.
New York ranks in the top 10 of the NBA in field-goal percentage allowed and 2-point percentage allowed, and the Knicks are blocking 5.4 shots per game, the sixth-best mark in the NBA. Given Atlanta’s weaknesses without Young in the fold offensively, New York should feel confident in its defensive setup against the Hawks.
How to make Hawks vs. Knicks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting 210 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model’s NBA picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Knicks vs. Hawks? And which side of the spread hits over 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.