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The New York Knicks will host the Atlanta Hawks for the fifth game of this best-of-seven playoff series. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Hawks-Knicks prediction and pick.
After splitting the first two games at Madison Square Garden, the Hawks went home and tore the Knicks apart in the third and fourth games of this series. New York will now come back home down 3-1 with a fighter's chance. The Garden will certainly be rocking as they try to help keep their team alive. If the Knicks can find a way to generate some offense, they may be able to make this a series after all.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Hawks-Knicks odds.
NBA Odds: Hawks-Knicks Odds
Atlanta Hawks +1.5 (-110)
New York Knicks -1.5 (-110)
Over 208 Points (-113)
Under 208 Points (-107)
Why The Hawks Could Cover The Spread
The Hawks have looked like the best outside-shooting team in the NBA in the past two games. The amount of weapons that this team possesses is actually scary. The battle on the defensive end is fairly even in this series, but the edge that the Hawks possess on the offensive end is making the difference.
Atlanta dealt with a plethora of injuries throughout the season but still managed to win 41 games to secure the No. 5 seed. Nevertheless, they are more healthy now and clicking on all cylinders. Trae Young has led a roster full of marksmen to a commanding 3-1 series lead.
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Young led the way with 27 points and nine dimes in Game 4. John Collins added 22 points and eight rebounds, while Clint Capela put together another double-double. Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Kevin Huerter have been hot as can be from beyond the arc and have opened the floor up in a big way. The plan for this team heading into Game 5 will be to stay the course and watch the Knicks continue to beat themselves down the stretch.
Why The Knicks Could Cover The Spread
The Knicks have been so disappointing to watch in this series. After a tremendous season that saw the Knicks exceed expectations in a big way, they are now living down to the preseason expectations in the postseason. Coach Tom Thibodeau is trying to make adjustments to get any sort of offensive production out of his club.
Thibs inserted Derrick Rose into the starting lineup early in the series, and Rose has been the only consistently productive Knick. Rose dropped 18 points and added six assists in Game 4. Rose finally got some help from RJ Barrett, who went for 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field.
The bench has actually played well for New York, with Obi Toppin and Alec Burks bringing instant energy into the game. Truthfully speaking, there is one man to blame for this playoff debacle. Julius Randle is shooting 27.4% from the field through the first four games. If he doesn't return to regular-season form in a hurry, we'll probably be saying farewell to the Knicks after Game 5.
Final Hawks-Knicks Prediction & Pick
Although the Hawks have been playing lights-out basketball over the past two games, I have to believe that the Knicks will rally behind their fans at MSG. New York has to be patient on offense and generate high percentage looks from deep. They were the third-best 3-point shooting team in the league this season. If Randle can break out of his slump, New York has hope. The elite defense will come to play and will slow the Hawks' onslaught of 3s in Game 5, so look for the Knicks to send this series to Game 6 in Atlanta. They have to make an adjustment and find a way to slow Trae Young.
FINAL PICK: New York Knicks -1.5 (-110)
