Atlanta Hawks (44-32) vs. New York Knicks (42-34)
June 2, 2021 7:30 pm EDT
The Line: New York Knicks -1.5; Over/Under: -208
(Get latest betting odds)
The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks meet Wednesday in game five of the NBA East Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
The Atlanta Hawks have a chance to advance to the second round for the first time since the 2015-16 season. The Atlanta Hawks are averaging 104.3 points on 44.8 percent shooting and allowing 99 points on 40.3 percent shooting. Trae Young is averaging 27.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while Bogdan Bogdanovic is averaging 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. John Collins is the third double-digit scorer and Danilo Gallinari is grabbing 3.5 rebounds. The Atlanta Hawks are shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. The Atlanta Hawks are allowing 32.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.3 rebounds per game.
The New York Knicks need a win to save their season and force a game six on Friday. The New York Knicks are averaging 99 points on 40.3 percent shooting and allowing 104.3 points on 44.8 percent shooting. Derrick Rose is averaging 22.8 points and 4.3 rebounds while Julius Randle is averaging 16.8 points and 4.3 assists. Alec Burks is the third double-digit scorer and RJ Barrett is grabbing 7.3 rebounds. The New York Knicks are shooting 32.8 percent from beyond the arc and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. The New York Knicks are allowing 38.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 46.8 rebounds per game.
The Hawks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Knicks are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games and 34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 games overall. The under is 6-1 in Hawks last 7 overall. The under is 4-1 in Knicks last 5 overall. The Hawks are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in New York and 3-7-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
The Atlanta Hawks have been clearly the better team this series and could have easily swept the Knicks. You’re getting a free bucket with the better team. With that said, the Knicks have to find their offense eventually and they’re coming home to MSG where the crowd has been hostile. If the Knicks can’t find a way to play 48 minutes and extend this series, it will be quite disappointing. I’ll lay the small chalk with the Knicks.
