Trae is back in MSG. Coming off one of his most iconic moments in the league, Trae can become the biggest villain in New York again. With the NBA Cup on the line, we can expect both teams to come out hot in this one, and considering how great Atlanta has looked recently, this could be a top game of the year.
This might be the best feel-good story in the league. Atlanta has gone through so many twists and turns to get here. There were terrible trades, draft picks that didn't work out, and bad coaching hires. This team has struggled to put the pieces together for the last couple of years, but now they’re here. With a young core and sturdy vets, they have an astonishingly fun team.
This team plays their brand of basketball, which is refreshing in this era of all threes. They attack the rim, run in transition, and fight hard on defense. This is a young, hard-nosed team looking to be physical. It’s paid off, too, with the Hawks going on a massive run in the last couple of weeks. They’re sitting at 13-12 on the year. For a team not expected to win 40 games, they’re on a great pace.
They match up well against the Knicks, too. Dyson Daniels has been the most impressive perimeter defender all season. So, sticking him on Brunson will be extremely helpful. As for the rest of the team, the Knicks typically have the talent to spread you out, but not this group. Jalen Johnson, De'Andre Hunter, and Zaccharie Risacher have played great ball. This team has moved away from the heliocentric style around Trae to a more holistic approach, which has elevated their forwards.
It’s not like Trae isn’t involved; it’s just offensively, he’s more of a playmaker than a scorer most nights. He’s still elite at moving the ball and getting his guys in significant positions. He can’t be discredited for this run they’re on just because his shots haven’t been falling.
We like how big this team is as a whole. They have the size of every position, which could make it hard for the Knicks to move tonight. It’s not like the Knicks are a small team, but beyond Trae, they won’t have a single player they can attack on defense.
This game will be won or lost on the defensive end. We expect Thibs to pull out all the stops. He’ll probably play Hart and Bridges for 40 minutes tonight if he has to. Expect this game to be a grind-it-out war between two teams with deep animosity. We still think the Hawks beat the Knicks tonight, just like they did early this year.
We know tonight means a little more than most. It wasn’t too long ago that Trae Young was waiving goodbye to Knicks fans in the playoffs, but now he's back. They are sitting in the way of their NBA Cup chances. Expect MSG to be a madhouse tonight, as the hatred for Trae still pulses through that fan base. It will be a loud, rowdy time in the stands, but it could be even more explosive on the court.
Both of these teams are running into each other at great moments. Yes, some players are listed as questionable, but tonight feels like a playoff game. Guys will step up to be available for this matchup. Regardless of whether we get everyone, these teams have been elite. They have both been tearing up the East and risen to playoff positions. Now, they come colliding together with all the momentum in the world, but someone has to lose tonight.
This game means a lot to both sides. Moving on in the NBA Cup isn’t just a vanity piece; it would be the first achievement for two squads looking for more.
Considering the matchup tonight, the Knicks will have to bring their A-game. We won’t be surprised if Thibs plays his starts as much as they can physically handle. He’s not one to pull back on the reigns, either. We’d be stunned if Hart and Bridges don’t play nearly 40 minutes tonight. Picking up this win might be bigger than winning a playoff game. This could be the first sign to the league from the Knicks that “We Have Arrived.”
They’ll have to take it from Atlanta, though, a team not shy about winning in MSG. Trae will be looking for an encore performance tonight, and based on how he’s played lately, he might. The Knicks have the team to take down the Hawks, but they’ll have to win the physical battle. That means limiting second-chance points, forcing the Hawks to score from deep, and not letting them get out in transition. KAT will have to be a leader again tonight. He’ll have the best matchup against Capela, and if he can exploit that, he could be in for a big game.
We have some concerns about the Knicks, though. They’ve already dropped a game to Atlanta this season. They seem to struggle with teams that push the pace. They’ve lost to Utah, Atlanta, and Chicago; all teams below them talent-wise, but some of the top pace teams in the league. If this game turns into a foot race in MSG, the Knicks will struggle, themselves near the bottom of the league in pace. They need to establish a strong half-court game and control its speed.
We give the slight edge here to Atlanta. They have been only getting stronger and have a real chance to make the NBA Cup finals, we think they’ll be locked into this game.
Bogdan Bogdanovic Questionable
De’Andre Hunter Probable
Cody Zeller Out
Trae Young Probable
Jalen Johnson Questionable
Karl Anthony Towns Probable
Josh Hart Questionable
Mitchell Robinson Out
Spread: +8 ATL (-108) / -8 NY (-112)
Total Points: 237.5
Moneyline: ATL (+280) / NY (-355)
Karl Anthony-Towns 43+ Combined Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115)
Clint Capela 10+ Rebounds (+105)
Josh Hart Under 5.5 Assists (-148)
Mikal Bridges 1+ Block (+100)