Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks Preview & Prediction - 1/2/2026
Updated January 2, 2026
Updated January 2, 2026
The Atlanta Hawks are set to visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. The Knicks enter as one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference with a strong home record and a chance to move closer to the top spot in the East. The Hawks are trying to climb back toward relevance after a middling start to the year. Here, I break down this rivalry matchup in the Eastern Conference and bring you my Hawks vs Knicks prediction for the game.
Pick: | Hawks +7.5 |
Confidence: | 3/5 |
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New York comes into this game with a strong 23-10 record and offensive firepower, led by Jalen Brunson’s scoring and playmaking. Brunson has averaged 29.4 points and 6.6 assists per game, giving the Knicks a reliable offensive engine. However, recent losses have exposed some defensive issues, including a 134-132 defeat to the Spurs where New York’s rebounding and late-game defense faltered. In that game, the absence of key rebounders was evident, and head coach Mike Brown publicly criticized the group’s defensive effort.
The Knicks are set to be without Josh Hart due to an ankle injury, and Landry Shamet is also out. Center Mitchell Robinson is questionable with an ankle issue, potentially limiting New York’s size and rebounding. On the Hawks side, star Trae Young remains questionable with a quad contusion, which could significantly impact Atlanta’s offensive rhythm if he does not play.
Atlanta snapped an extended losing streak in its last game, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. The Hawks are 16-19 on the season and clinging to a play-in tournament spot at this point in the year. Their defense has held them back this season, with the Hawks giving up 120.1 points per game entering Friday night's action.
Player | Prop |
|---|---|
Jalen Brunson | Over 29.5 Points |
Karl-Anthony Towns | Under 12.5 Rebounds |
Jalen Johnson | Over 23.5 Points |
Score Projection: Knicks 124 – Hawks 119
Win Probability: Knicks 73%, Hawks 27%
I recommend taking the points with the Atlanta Hawks in this matchup from Madison Square Garden on Friday night. The Knicks are the better team overall, but their defense has struggled with Hart and Robinson not healthy and available to dominate the glass. Expect that trend to continue here and for us to get a close game.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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