Eastern Conference rivals collide on Friday night as the New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.
The Hawks (16–19, 10th East) recently snapped their seven-game skid but will arrive in Manhattan without star guard Trae Young, a disappointment for both the team and the rowdy home crowd. The Knicks (23–10, 2nd East) are coming off a loss in San Antonio but have won 15 of their last 19 games and will aim to stay dominant at home despite a few notable absences of their own.
The teams met for the first time last week in Atlanta, where the Knicks edged out a 128–125 victory.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Atlanta Hawks
- Out: Trae Young (Quad), N’Faly Dante (Knee), Nikola Djurisic (G League Assignment)
New York Knicks
- Out: Josh Hart (Ankle), Landry Shamet (Shoulder)
- Questionable: Karl-Anthony Towns (Illness), Mitchell Robinson (Ankle)
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. New York enters as a 6.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Atlanta is listed as a +220 underdog. The game’s total is set at 242.5 points.
Hawks vs. Knicks Preview
Atlanta Hawks Preview
The holiday season was not kind to the Hawks. Atlanta dropped 11 of 14 games in December, including a loss to the Knicks in New York, and owned the NBA’s 24th-ranked net rating during the calendar month.
The offense wasn’t the problem — in some ways, it was the best it’s been all season. Burgeoning superstar Jalen Johnson averaged a 25-point triple-double, while Trae Young, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Kristaps Porzingis each contributed 20-plus points a night.
Cracks began to show on the other end, however, as Atlanta recorded the NBA’s fifth-worst defensive rating in December. The Hawks allowed 125.4 opponent points per game, trailing only the Jazz (128.9) for the league’s highest mark. Patching the holes in its spotty coverage should be Atlanta’s top New Year’s resolution.
New York Knicks Preview
For the first time in years, the Knicks are New York City’s most promising “Big Four” sports presence. Fresh off a trip to the Conference Finals, they boast a top-five net rating and the NBA’s third-best offense — just a game-and-a-half behind the Pistons for the top seed in the East.
But New York likely won’t be at full force on Friday night. Already without Josh Hart, big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson are listed as questionable against the Hawks.
As always, the Knicks will lean on captain Jalen Brunson — who averages 29.4 points and 6.6 assists per game this season — to shoulder the load. But if KAT is sidelined, they’ll also need the likes of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Miles McBride, among others, to answer the call.
Hawks vs. Knicks Pick, Best Bet
Potential key absences in New York’s frontcourt could spell trouble against former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, who will be looking to make a statement against his former team. Still, the Brunson-led Knicks grind out wins and defend the Garden like the cathedral of hoops it is. New York boasts a 15–2 record at home with a 13–4 mark against the spread.
Count on the Knicks to hold the line against a fellow shorthanded Hawks squad and ring in the new year with a spread-covering, impact win.
