Free NBA Pick: Knicks vs. Hawks NBA Odds
Looking for New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Knicks taking on the Hawks on Friday, May 28th, 2021 at State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Knicks Hawks matchup.
2021 NBA Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(1-1) New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks (1-1)
Date: Friday, May 28th
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
NBA Moneyline Odds: OFF
NBA Betting Odds: Hawks -4
NBA Betting Total: O/U 210
On Friday, May 28th, the Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks in the third game of the first-round series. The clubs are tied following the Knicks 101-92 victory on Tuesday. The Hawks won the initial meeting 107-105.
This is the third time the clubs will meet in the postseason having played in the 1971 and 1999 semifinals with New York winning both series.
The Hawks hold the all-time record between the clubs with 197 wins in 380 meetings. The Knicks swept the regular-season three-game series this year.
New York Knicks
Although Julius Randle posted an identical double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds in Game 2, he was substantially better overall than he was in Game 1.
The newly crowned Most Improved Player didn’t force as many shots and was far better at reacting and distributing the ball in the face of the Hawks’ double-teams. In Game 1 he took 23 shots (making 6) and in Game 2 he took 16 (making 5).
Coach Tom Thibodeau relied heavily on his veterans utilizing former Bulls players Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson 39 and 30 minutes respectively. To close the game it was Randle, Rose, Gibson, Alec Burks and Reggie Bullock who the veteran coach leaned on to finish the match.
Rose led the way with 26 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Bullock scored 15 hitting four 3-pointers while Burks added 11 points.
Youngster RJ Barrett was the only Knicks player aside from the vets who logged substantial minutes (26) and while his shot was hot and cold (5 of 14) he scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
It still feels like the Knicks need to be more physical with Trae Young but in clutch time New York held the Hawks scoreless partially because they got the ball out of the young star’s hands.
There were reports Mitchell Robinson would return for Game 2, but Thibs said in the postgame he’s still several steps away.
Atlanta Hawks
The MSG crowd didn’t let up on Young in Game 2 while the point guard delighted in accepting the role of villain, scoring 30 points.
Yet, 20 of those points came in the first half, and of the 10 he scored in the second half four occurred in the first two minutes of the third quarter.
The Knicks did a better job of getting the ball out of his hand. His effect is still the biggest concern for New York as was evidenced in the final frame when he checked in with the Hawks trailing by 10 and instigated a 13 to 3 comeback.
However, after Clint Capela scored at 5:06 on an alley-oop lob from Young other than a De’Andre Hunter free throw with 26.9 seconds remaining Atlanta was held scoreless in the final five minutes.
Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic each scored 18 points while Kevin Huerter (10) was the only other double-figure scorer. John Collins was hampered by foul trouble all game and failed to score a single point.
Brandon Goodwin (respiratory condition) and Cam Reddish (right Achilles soreness) are both out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Knicks are 7-3 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The Knicks are 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 head to head meetings
- Over/Under is 5-5 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
Free New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA Prediction:
Being back in the ATL should help bolster the confidence of the young Hawks who’ll be playing in front of a full house.
Conversely, the Knicks can relax a bit not being in the pressure cooker of the Mecca. Moreover, they may have figured out a tweak to carry over to Game 3 because he was far less successful in the second half.
Perimeter and paint scoring plus rebounding are the keys to the match. In Game 1, the Hawks shot 35.3% (to 33.3%) and both teams scored 50 PIP.
In Game 2, the Knicks won all three categories holding Atlanta to 27.3% from deep (vs. 36.4%), outscored Atlanta 42 to 28 in the paint, and outrebounded the Hawks 54 to 41.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hawks ATS
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