Monday’s modest five-game slate in the NBA is headlined by a showdown between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks at 7:00 pm ET on Peacock. It is a potential Eastern Conference first round of the playoffs preview.
Let’s dive into my Knicks vs. Hawks prediction.
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks odds
Money line: Knicks +102 / Hawks -122
Spread: Knicks +1.5 (-110) / Hawks -1.5 (-110)
Total: Over 229.5 (-110) / Under 229.5 (-110)
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks best bet: Hawks -1.5 (-110)
Atlanta is the hottest team in the NBA at the moment – and it has been for a while now. Head coach Quin Snyder’s crew is on a four-game winning streak is an incredible 18-2 in its last 20 overall. The Hawks have everything to play for as they try to clinch the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and most importantly avoid the play-in tournament. Jalen Johnson was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in March, averaging 22.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 13 games. He has extended his double-double streak to three with his first two April appearances, helping his team destroy Orlando (130-101) and Brooklyn (141-107).
New York is not playing great right now. Head coach Mike Brown’s squad is 2-3 in its last five contests with its only wins during this stretch coming over the Grizzlies and Bulls, two teams that are actively trying to lose games. The Knicks have not defeated a team that it is in mathematical playoff contention since March 15 (Warriors) and have not defeated a team that has clinched a playoff spot since March 6 (Nuggets). It’s also worth noting that they are far worse on the road (21-19) than at home (28-9). Moreover, New York is locked into either the third or fourth spot in the East — so it will have home-court advantage in round one regardless of upcoming results. The stakes aren’t high for this team on Monday night.
The Knicks and Hawks have split their two previous 2025-26 meetings, with Atlanta most recently getting the job done 111-99 in New York on January 2. The Hawks are 3-1 against the spread in the last four head-to-head and 6-2 ATS in the last eight H2H. They are an amazing 16-4 ATS in their last 20 games overall, whereas the Knicks are 1-5 ATS in their last six.