Hawks vs Knicks, Game 2 | 2021 NBA Betting Lines

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In his first-ever playoff game, Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young lived up to the spotlight in leading the Hawks to an upset win at the Knicks at a raucous Madison Square Garden. New York is a short favorite on the NBA odds to even things up Wednesday at home in Game 2.

How to Bet Hawks at Knicks NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio:com

Why Bet on Atlanta? | 2021 NBA Betting Lines

The Hawks stole Game 1 of this series Sunday, 107-105 in New York. Hawks star guard Young made a runner in the lane with 0.9 seconds left. Young finished with 32 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. He frustrated the Knicks with his ability to draw fouls and made all nine free throws when he did. He became 2nd player in NBA history with 30 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds in his postseason debut. LeBron James is the other. Young also became just the fourth player with at least 30 points and 10 assists in his playoff debut, joining Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and LeBron.

Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Bogdanovic hit a couple of huge three-pointers in the fourth quarter as he and Young led the way down the stretch to hold off the Knicks. Bogdanovic’s three with 3:40 remaining put the Hawks up one, and he tied the game with another deep trey with 55 seconds remaining.

De’Andre Hunter started Sunday’s game and finished with just five points, four rebounds, one 3-pointer and a turnover in 22 minutes. He did play good defense on Julius Randle, who really struggled. Both Kevin Huerter (eight points, two blocks in 27 minutes) and Danilo Gallinari (seven points, one mohawk in 24 minutes) played more minutes and were a bit more productive than Hunter. As Hunter gains more confidence in the knee that’s cost him significant time this season, it’s possible he could see more minutes as the series goes on.

Through their 14-20 start under Lloyd Pierce, the Hawks were tied for the worst fourth-quarter point differential in the league at -1.9. Nate McMillan took over as coach March 1. From that point to the end of the regular season, in a dramatic turnaround, the Hawks had the best point differential at +3.0, and that trend continued in Game 1. On Sunday, the Hawks outscored the Knicks 36-32 in the fourth, going 5-of-7 from 3-point range (71.4%) after going 7-of-27 (25.9%) the first three quarters.

It was a big win as Atlanta lost its final five road games of the regular season but now has stolen home-court advantage. They won their last 11 games at home, which was the best streak in the NBA to end the season.

Why Bet on New York? | 2021 NBA Betting Lines

The Knicks aren’t winning this series without more from team MVP and All-Star Julius Randle. He vowed to “come back better” after enduring a rocky postseason debut, missing 17 of 23 field-goal attempts and held to 15 points — nine below his regular-season average — in the Knicks’ 107-105 loss to the Hawks in Game 1 on Sunday night.

While Randle insisted he had “no excuses” for his substandard performance following Sunday’s loss, he also allowed that he may have “over-prepared” during the week between the regular-season finale and Sunday’s series opener.

The Hawks defended Randle by committee. John Collins spent the most time on him, but Randle hit 4 of 8 shots with him there. He was 1 of 6 with Danillo Gallinari as the primary defender and 1 of 5 with DeAndre Hunter in that role. Atlanta always seemed to have someone lingering nearby with an eye on Randle to help, if need be. Randle torched the Hawks for 37.3 points per game in the regular season and shot 58 percent from the floor, so they had to do something differently.

Luckily, the Knicks got big contributions from their bench, including a 27-point night from Alec Burks to keep afloat. Burks drilled key shot after key shot on his way to 18 points in the fourth quarter alone. Derrick Rose had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench. Those two guards carried the while Reggie Bullock (six points, three boards in 19 minutes) and especially Elfrid Payton (scoreless in eight minutes) were nearly invisible.

Starting center Nerlens Noel left the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Hawks and did not return, playing just 24 minutes on his way to six points, three rebounds, a steal and two blocks. Taj Gibson ended up closing the contest as the Knicks’ center. Tom Thibodeau acknowledged that Noel tweaked his ankle during Game 1 but said he “should be fine” for Game 2 on Wednesday.

Game Trends

Hawks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.
Hawks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Hawks are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 playoff games as an underdog.
Knicks are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 2 days rest.
Knicks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
Knicks are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games as a home favorite.
Knicks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 home games.