Hawks vs Knicks NBA Cup Picks, Prediction: Bet Hawks +7 and Over on Dec 11
- Find the best NBA Cup odds at BetUS.
- This rivalry has been growing, mainly fueled by Young and the New York fanbase.
- Because of the rivalry, it is hard to imagine the Knicks winning by a lot.
- Get the best Hawks vs Knicks picks ahead.
Adam Silver couldn’t have asked for a better matchup in the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals. The Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks have built a small rivalry over the last few seasons, which will affect NBA picks and predictions. The New York fans have mainly perpetrated that rivalry with their disdain for Hawks points guard Trae Young. Luckily, this game will be played in the Garden, only adding to the atmosphere.
Somehow, the Hawks won East: Group C, beating out the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, two teams with the best records in the NBA. The Hawks went 3-1, beating both teams and finishing with a 15-point differential. But in their last game, they lost 141-111 to the Denver Nuggets, ending a six-game winning streak.
The Knicks may have had an easier path to the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup, winning all four games and finishing with a points differential of 30. That is a big reason the BetUS has them as a favorite to win the tournament, with odds at +300. They also won their last game, excitingly beating the Toronto Raptors 113-108.
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Hawks vs Knicks Game Information
- Game: Hawks (13-12) vs Knicks (15-9)
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Hawks vs Knicks Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Get the latest Hawks vs Knicks betting trends here.
Hawks vs Knicks Best Bets: Who Will Win, Cover the Spread?
Atlanta Hawks ATS +7
There are so many storylines for this matchup between the Hawks and Knicks, making it great for NBA news. They have already matched up once this season, with the Hawks winning in Atlanta. The Knicks had a five-point lead with just under three minutes remaining, but the Hawks went on a 13-1 run, winning 121-116.
There’s no love lost between Trae Young and New York Knicks fans 😂pic.twitter.com/OXJHMZvNtI
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) November 7, 2024
After that win, in which Young had 23 points and 10 assists, he was clear about what he thought of traveling Knicks fans being loud during the game. That was another footnote in the rivalry between him and the New York fans, which dates back to the 2021 playoffs. Since the 2019-20 season, when all this started, Young has played in MSG 21 times, including playoffs, averaging 28.4 points and 9.8 assists, with four games with at least 40 points.
It is pretty clear that whenever Young plays in MSG, he makes it very clear to put on a show against a fanbase that antagonizes him. Young thrives in that situation and has a great supporting cast around him.
Jalen Johnson has continued to prove he is one of the top young players in the league, averaging 19.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Johnson was out during the loss against the Nuggets but should be back to face the Knicks. The Hawks have eight players averaging double-figure points per game, which is helped out by Young’s league-high assists (12.2).
That makes the Hawks a clear option in NBA expert picks today to make this game close and cover the spread. This pains me as a Knicks fan who has lived in New York his whole life.
Hawks vs Knicks Over 237
Theoretically, both teams have what it takes to stop the opposing team’s offense. They both rely heavily on their point guards to control the game. We already touched on Young, but the Knicks have Jalen Brunson, who averages 25.2 points and 7.8 assists per game. Both are also smaller guards, under 6-foot-3 inches.
On both teams’ rosters, there is a plethora of solid wing defenders to throw at these All-Star guards, trying to slow them down. The Hawks have Johnson, De’Andre Hunter, a game-time decision, and Dyson Daniels, who leads the league in steals per game (3.2). The Knicks have more well-known names on their wings, such as OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart.
However, this game still feels like it can go over. The Knicks are averaging the seventh-most points per game, at 117.8, while the Hawks are one spot behind them with 117.1. Then, defensively, the Knicks are ranked 18th in defensive rating, while the Hawks are 19th.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS WITH THE DAGGER 😤🎯 pic.twitter.com/HVrK06T6rP
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 10, 2024
The x-factor in this matchup might be Karl-Anthony Towns. The Hawks had no way of slowing him down when they faced the Knicks earlier in the season. Towns had 34 points and is continuing to dominate this season. He had 24 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists in the win over the Raptors. Furthermore, in that win, he made it clear that New York was his team, which could make things interesting because of Young’s rivalry with the fanbase.
That will lean NBA betting on the over. They have hit the over in their last four matchups, and this trend should continue.
Bet This Pick: Hawks vs Knicks Over 237
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
Questions of the Day
Who is going to lead this game in scoring?
Young has become a playmaker in the last few matchups with the Knicks, so expect Towns to lead this game in scoring.
Is there a player prop to pay attention to in this game?
Young will have a big game, and the Knicks’ defense might force the ball out of his hand, so expect him to have a lot of assists.
