Knicks vs. Hawks prediction and odds for Friday, January 20 (Knicks elite on road)
By Peter Dewey
The Atlanta Hawks are playing some of their best basketball of the 2022-23 season, winning four straight games to move into the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they have a tough matchup with the New York Knicks on Friday.
If the season ended today, the Knicks and Hawks would play in the first round of the East’s play-in tournament, so this is a big game for both teams for tiebreaker and seeding purposes.
The Knicks will be shorthanded tonight, as Mitchell Robinson (thumb) is expected to miss three weeks. The Knicks are just 4-4 in the eight games he’s missed this season.
This is absolutely brutal for the Knicks, going to need a lot of Jericho Sims going forward.
— Peter Dewey (@peterdewey2) January 19, 2023
Knicks are 4-4 without Mitchell Robinson this season... https://t.co/HHzpLDp3vC
Trae Young (ankle) is listed as questionable for the Hawks in this game. Knicks fans know how much Young has crushed the team in recent seasons, so his status could move the line in a big way in this matchup.
New York has been a great road team this season, but can it cover a short spread in Atlanta?
Here’s a look at the latest odds and my prediction for this game:
Knicks vs. Hawks odds, spread and total
Knicks vs. Hawks prediction and pick
There hasn’t been a better team in the NBA against the spread on the road than the Knicks, who enter this game 16-6 ATS on the road and 10-5 ATS as road underdogs.
Atlanta, on the other hand, is just 6-10 against the spread as a home favorite.
New York is coming off a couple of tough losses to the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards, but yesterday’s off day was huge for the team with Tom Thibodeau really loading up the minutes for Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson as of late.
Even though the Hawks have been playing better as of late, the team is still 22nd in the NBA in net rating this season.
The Knicks clock in at ninth in the league in that statistic.
Young’s status could sway this line, but either way I like New York to show up again on the road. The Knicks are one of the few teams that thrives away from their home arena, and I’ll gladly take the points with them tonight.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.