Who doesn't love a good midseason matchup between two teams with competing odds to make the NBA playoffs? That's what we have in store on Wednesday night when the New York Knicks travel to face the Atlanta Hawks.
The Orange and Blue enter with the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference, a mere 1.5-game lead over the eighth-place Atlanta. If the Hawks win, they'll be just a half-game out of seventh while having won the season series between these two teams 3-1. For the Knicks, a win would extend their lead and increase their chances of catching the sixth-place Miami Heat, while also knotting up the regular-season tiebreaker with Atlanta.
Basically, this game means something. It has playoff and play-in tournament implications. It is the kind of game we may look back on two months from now as a missed opportunity for one team and a clutch victory for another. Naturally, that means we have New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks picks. But before we get to them, here's the latest NBA online betting odds for this matchup:
| To Win |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jericho Sims | +150 | +150 | +145 |
| Kenyon Martin jr. | +175 | +165 | +160 |
| Trey Murphy III | +275 | +250 | +250 |
| Mac McClung | +475 | +500 | +500 |
Please remember to double-check these Knicks vs. Hawks betting odds until you actually submit your wager. Our odds on Hawks vs. Knicks are accurate following all games played on Tuesday night, February 14. That gives linemakers time to adjust their odds prior to opening tip-off on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Of course, you don't have to worry about having the latest online NBA betting odds if you've linked up with the right wagering betting site. That's why we suggest checking out our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. All the information we provide can help you identify the best online NBA betting sites in 2023.
On to our predictions for the Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks game!
The Atlanta Hawks Are Not Trustworthy Favorites Against the New York Knicks
It caught us off guard when we saw the Hawks were decided favorites over the Knicks. Sure, Atlanta has done a fairly nice job taking care of business at home this season. But they're coming into this matchup worse for wear.
Both Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins are questionable with injuries, and the early signs are that Bogdanovic won't play. That is really going to hurt the Hawks' floor-spacing and overall shot-making from beyond the arc, and they don't have that kind of margin for error. Atlanta has also oddly struggled on offense when playing in front of their own crowd; they rank 25th in points scored per possession during home games.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have been one of the NBA's best road squads all year. New York owns a top-five offense and top-four net rating in games played away from home. Their stock is further buoyed by a recent stretch in which they've won four of five. The offense is humming, Jalen Brunson is playing like an All-Star, and the defense has found ways to overcome issues on the boards and gut out more stops.
Atlanta does have better top-end talent than New York. Trae Young is starting to look like an All-NBA player again, and Dejounte Murray is a defensive gnat with otherworldly defensive energy. Clint Capela is starting to look better, as well.
Still, the Knicks are, as of now, the more complete team—even with Mitchell Robinson, their defensive anchor, nursing an injury on the sidelines. Following the addition of Josh Hart, their bench might actually be the best in the business. Depth is going to win out in this one. And simply put: The Knicks have it. the Hawks do not.
OSB Prediction: New York Knicks (+120)
Is the Knicks Point Spread Better Than Their Moneyline?
Here are the latest NBA point spread betting odds for Hawks vs. Knicks:
- Atlanta Hawks, -2 (-110)
- New York Knicks, +2 (-110)
The Knicks point spread is an easy pick for us, since we have them winning this one outright. But given how small it is, we recommend leaning toward their moneyline. You increase your risk, but you also have the opportunity to win a wager that pays out better than even money.
If you really have the stomach for it, you could try parlaying two. Not all sportsbooks will let you pair moneyline and point spread wagers for the same team, but some will, and it would drum up your potential winnings considerably. For every $100 you wager, you'd stand to take home $320.
OSB Prediction: New York Knicks, +2 (-110)
How Many Points Will be Scored During Knicks vs. Hawks?
Check out the latest NBA over/under betting odds for Knicks vs. Hawks below:
- Over 234.5 (-110)
- Under 234.5 (-110)
At first glance, "over 234.5" is extremely attractive. The Hawks defense has started to regress, and the Knicks offense is getting nightly detonations from Brunson, Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley and, now, the newcomer in Hart. But poor defense on one side and heightened efficiency on the other doesn't necessarily translate to "over" material.
On the contrary, this game seems designed to hit the "under 234.5." The Knicks don't play at a particularly fast pace; they are 27th in transition frequency. The Hawks aren't as slow, but they don't get out on the break, either. Their offense is held back even further by their shot selection. No team takes more mid-range jumpers, and the Hawks are 29th in three-point-attempt rate. Taking a bunch of twos and very few threes, while also not getting to the line at an exceptional clip, is a recipe for colliding with the "under."
OSB Prediction: Under 234.5 (-110)
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