- What: NBA Cup Game
- When: December 11, 2024
- Who: Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks
- Time: 4:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Madison Square Garden (New York City, NY)
The Atlanta Hawks (13-12) will play the New York Knicks (15-9) in the NBA Cup quarterfinals this evening.
The Knicks are favored by 7.5 points against the Hawks (Knicks -7), and the total points for the game is set at 237. New York is favored to win outright at -350, while Atlanta has +280 odds to snag an upset victory.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks’ defense has been a sieve, but they’ve also shown the ability to step up against individual stars when it matters most. Towns might find himself in a tough spot, especially if the Knicks focus on shutting him down.
In addition, the Knicks have been on a roll lately, winning 10 of their last 13 games. They’re not just winning; they’re doing it convincingly.
Winner goes to Vegas ????️
???? @nyknicks
⏰ 7 PM ET
???? @TheGarden
???? @FanDuelSN_Hawks & @espn @ESPNNBA
???? @929TheGame pic.twitter.com/aySXwiXKZX— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 11, 2024
On the other hand, the Hawks just had their six-game winning streak snapped and are coming off a rough loss to the Denver Nuggets. The momentum is clearly in favor of New York, which will play a huge role in how this game unfolds.
With the Knicks’ ability to stretch the floor and their defensive prowess, I expect them to control the pace of the game.
This means fewer opportunities for Towns to rack up those stats. If the Knicks can force the Hawks into a perimeter shooting contest, Towns will be less involved in the offense, which is exactly what I expect to happen.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are not just a better team this season; they’re a flat-out superior squad in every advanced metric.
With Precious Achiuwa’s return, the Knicks have added a layer of defensive flexibility that they sorely missed during his absence.
This is a game-changer, especially when you consider how the Hawks have been struggling defensively.
According to Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks allow threes at the second-highest frequency in the league, and their opponents shoot a blistering 39.1% from beyond the arc.
bring the energy ⚡️
Get The Gotham Sports App: https://t.co/qjvjYiTk6n pic.twitter.com/HL5EqgCcPq
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 11, 2024
Meanwhile, the Knicks are shooting 40.8% from three, which is the second-best mark in the NBA.
This is a significant edge for New York, and they’re likely to exploit it against a Hawks team that has shown vulnerability on the perimeter.
Now, let’s talk about Karl-Anthony Towns. Sure, he’s had some impressive performances, but the matchup against the Knicks is not ideal for him.
The Knicks’ defense has been solid, and with Achiuwa back, they can throw multiple looks at Towns, limiting his effectiveness.
Hawks-Knicks Best Bet
While I fully expect the Knicks to win this game, the spread of 7.5 points feels like too much to me. I would take the 7.5 points and back the Hawks at -105 odds at BetMGM as the best bet in this one.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
