- What: NBA Regular Season Game
- When: November 6, 2024
- Who: New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
- Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Where: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)
Atlanta Hawks face off against the New York Knicks Wednesday night.
Both the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks have consistently had some high-scoring games in the past, and I anticipate another high-scoring affair in this matchup.
The Hawks and Knicks are preparing for their upcoming matchup, with the potential absence of Atlanta point guard Trae Young significantly impacting the Knicks’ chances.
New York Knicks
The Knicks boast a strong offensive lineup with six players averaging double figures, led by point guard Jalen Brunson at 26 points per game.
The Knicks rely heavily on their starting five, with new addition center Karl-Anthony Towns contributing 21.3 points and 12.5 rebounds.
Small forward Miles Bridges is a key defensive player for the Knicks, known for making crucial defensive plays his performance often correlates with the team’s success.
In their last outing, he had three steals against the Detroit Pistons but struggled defensively in the loss to the Houston Rockets.
Guard Josh Hart adds depth to the team, averaging 13.8 points and nearly 9 rebounds per game, but needs to reduce turnovers for better team performance. Hart averages 2.2 turnovers per game.
Overall, the Knicks’ success hinges on their offensive consistency and defensive contributions, particularly from Bridges.
Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young is currently a game-time decision due to an injury that isn’t serious but could benefit from rest against a tough defense. Young will be active for this matchup.
Center Cody Zeller and Forward De’Andre Hunter are also dealing with injuries. Young leads the Hawks with an average of 23.9 points per game, though his scoring has dipped, partly due to a two-point performance against Boston.
Double-Double for Double O off the bench ????????
18 PTS | 10 REB@BigO21_ x @UPS pic.twitter.com/9miMxRCu3o
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 5, 2024
He also averages a career-high 11.0 assists, leading the league, making his potential absence significant for the team.
Power forward Jalen Johnson is emerging as a vital contributor, averaging a career-best 18.4 points and 10.0 rebounds, along with 5.1 assists. His strong play is essential for the Hawks’ success.
Meanwhile, No. 1 overall pick small forward Zaccharie Risacher is starting to engage more offensively, averaging 9.4 points. However, he struggles with a 32.9% shooting percentage.
Seven points feels like a few too many for this home team, despite the uncertainty of not having Trae Young. I’d bet Hawks +7 at -110 odds in this one.
Knicks-Hawks Best Bet
The Knicks began this season with hopes of capturing a championship, but their defensive performance has noticeably declined.
While acquiring Towns has improved their spacing and offensive efficiency, his struggles to guard the rim have become apparent.
In their recent loss to the Rockets, the Knicks were crushed on the boards, 50-39, and surrendered a staggering 62 points in the paint.
Currently, they sit at the bottom of the league in opponent two-point shooting percentage (61.2%) and rank 21st in points allowed in the paint (50.3).
On the other hand, the Hawks face their own set of challenges. However, with the rising star Jalen Johnson and the strong center duo of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, they are able to score effectively in the interior.
The Hawks rank tied for seventh in the league with an average of 52.0 points in the paint per game, while they stand eighth in two-point shooting percentage (55.9%).
However, Atlanta has significant weaknesses on the defensive end and tends to play at a high tempo.
With Trae Young possibly out and injuries to guard Bogdan Bogdanovic and center De’Andre Hunter, the Hawks may find it difficult to guard the perimeter.
They currently rank 27th in the league for defensive rating and are last in opponent three-point shooting percentage (39.8%), contributing to them allowing the third-most points per game (121.9).
In contrast, the Knicks are leading the league in three-point shooting percentage (41.4%) and hold the third-best offensive rating.
The best bet in this one is going to be over 225.5 points at -105 odds at BetMGM.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
