New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Atlanta has beaten New York once this season but may well find the championship contender Knicks a different animal second time around in this battle for a place in the NBA Cup semifinals.

Milwaukee awaits the winner in Las Vegas on Saturday night with the odds suggesting it will be the Knicks taking on the Bucks in the NBA Cup semifinals.

New York (15-9) are certainly strong at Madison Square Garden where they boast an 8-3 record.

And Atlanta (13-12) needs to clear some dizziness after Sunday's 141-111 home thrashing by a Nikola Jokic-inspired Denver.

New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks betting picks and predictions

New York Knicks -7 (-115)

The Hawks have had three days to lick their wounds and patch up battered egos and that's plenty of time to remind themselves that they have beaten Boston in the last month. And Cleveland. And a resurgent Bucks.

In fact they were 6-0 before running into Jokic at the weekend and of course they have beaten the Knicks this season already, clinging on for a 121-116 success on November 6.

That was tight but the way Jokic bullied them into collapse at the weekend could well be a key sign.

The Knicks are in good form having won five of their last six culminating in Monday's tough 113-108 win over Toronto, Karl-Anthony Towns returning from a one-game absence (a loss) with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 20 and is averaging 25.5 this season.

The Hawks are blessed with their own defining offensive power duo of course in Trae Young and Jalen Johnson but Brunson and Towns have something extra as they ignite the Knicks.

A lot of the key metrics suggest the Hawks have a chance. They are averaging 117.1 points per game this season compared to the Knicks' 117.8, but they have better numbers than Tom Thibodeau's team in rebounds, blocks, assists and steals.

But the one part of this match-up that can't be ignored and Hawks' fans know needs addressing, is defense. Atlanta's is not good. They are giving up almost 120 points per game and struggle with physicality.

And that makes Towns and Brunson the nightmare scenario because the more physical this game gets - and Madison will demand it does - the greater the prospects of New York winning and winning well.

OG Anunoby Over 4.5 rebounds (-130)

Defensively the Knicks have improved again this season allowing 111 points and under 47 percent shooting from the field.

They are organised well and slowing teams down which is critical against a Hawks' offense which moves the ball quickly.

Karl-Anthony Towns leads the team in rebounding with 13.2 per game but everyone is chipping in including OG Anunoby who is averaging five rebounds per game.

The British-born forward can land odds of -130 by bringing down at least another five against the Hawks.

Zacharie Risacher Under 10.5 points (-135)

No.1 pick Zacharie Risacher had the game of his life when these teams met last month, scoring 33 points as Atlanta won 121-116.

The French rookie has been consistent this season but his numbers are maybe dropping, culminating in the 10 points he racked up against the Nuggets on Sunday.

He may well struggle to get close to that against a bullying Knicks' defense and is taken to fall shy of 10.5.

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New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks odds

New York Knicks	-290 ML
Atlanta Hawks	+235 ML
Spread	NYK -7
Total Points	O/U 236.0

New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks player props

Player Points

Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK)	O/U 25.5
Jalen Brunson (NYK)	O/U 27.5
OG Anunoby (NYK)	O/U 16.5
Bogdan Bogdanovic (ATL)	O/U 13.5
Jalen Johnson (ATL)	O/U 19.5
Trae Young (ATL)	O/U 21.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.