Hawks Aim for Fifth Win in Row
Trae Young and the streaking Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to host Julius Randle and the New York Knicks at the State Farm Arena on Friday. The two are neck and neck in the Eastern Conference standings, but at the seventh and eighth spots, both teams have a lot to improve.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report, and NBA lines for the Knicks vs Hawks. We’ve plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Knicks Hope to Snap Losing Streak
The New York Knicks enter Friday with a slim lead over the Hawks in the East but are riding a two-game losing streak with back-to-back losses to the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards.
Despite their poor standing, the Knicks are only nine games behind the first-place Boston Celtics and could climb into contention with a few intense weeks of play.
Whether they are capable of that kind of run remains to be seen.
On a positive note, unlike the Hawks, the Knicks have a winning record against the spread of 24-20-2. Due to this, the Knicks are a profitable team with an ROI of 4.05% and a return of 2.05 units to their bettors.
Oddly, the numbers get far better when the Knicks are on the road. Away from the pressure of MSG, the Knicks lead the NBA with an ROI of 39.05% and rewarded bettors with +9.45 units.
There isn’t much to report regarding injuries on the Knicks heading into the weekend. Mitchell Robinson, who will be out for at least a month after thumb surgery, is the only name on the report.
Hawks on a Heater
The Atlanta Hawks are on a hot streak right now, having won four in a row and six of their previous 10. While that is all well and good for the Hawks, Atlanta needs to provide wins on the betting side of things with a record against the spread of 19-25-1. That may not look too terrible on paper, but it’s the third-worst mark in the league behind the Mavericks and Rockets.
Along with the third-worst ATS record in the league comes a return on investment of -17.17%. This means that loyal Hawks bettors are down -8.50 units this season. The numbers don’t get much better when we highlight the Hawks’ home games, with an ROI of -13.42% and a loss of -3.10 units.
On the injury front, Young is listed as questionable due to left ankle soreness. Bogdan Bogdanovic’s status is also up in the air. We don’t expect Young to sit, but if he does, the Hawks will be without their most potent weapon.
Knicks vs Hawks Game Injuries
Knicks vs Hawks Head-to-Head
This is the first meeting of these Eastern Conference rivals this season. But, the pair split games last season, with each team taking a victory on their home court. The Underwent 2-0.
Knicks vs Hawks Game Information
- Game: Knicks (25-21) vs Hawks (23-22)
- Location: State Farm Arena Atlanta, GA
- Day/Time: Friday, Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Knicks vs Hawks Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Knicks vs Hawks Betting Lines
Knicks vs Hawks Picks & Prediction
The Knicks have the best ATS record on the road in the NBA at 16-6 and haven’t missed covering a game since Nov. 20. Almost two months is not a trend I am going to bet against, especially with a less-than-healthy Trae Young.
Atlanta is listed at -145 in our Vegas NBA lines. If you wager $100 on the Hawks, you can win $69. New York is +125, offering a chance to win $125 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Atlanta a 59.18% chance to win, with the Knicks at 44.44%.
Knicks vs Hawks Trends
Knicks vs Hawks Edge
Knicks vs Hawks Results
Knicks vs Hawks Game Summary
Hawks vs Knicks Previous Game (Dec. 07, 2022)
The Atlanta Hawks return to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks, whose fans have a strong opinion of Hawks star point guard Trae Young. Young has been in the news recently and is reportedly at odds with coach Nate McMillan.
In their last game, the Hawks (13-11) lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-114 despite having a lead for most of the game, including at the start of the final quarter.
The Knicks (11-13) ended a five-game losing streak at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers, putting on a solid defensive performance in a 92-81 triumph.
Recently, neither team has been able to find any consistency. The Hawks are dealing with the Young situation, which may get worse if they keep losing. They are 4-6 in their last 10. On the other side, the Knicks have struggled to put it all together, having only the offense or defense playing well every night.
Young did not have the performance he would have wanted in front of a New York crowd that doesn’t like him earlier this season. With the added motivation, he could have a great game. It’s up to the Knicks’ defense to recreate the energy it had in the last game.