Sports
Hawks Face Knicks in Crucial Eastern Conference Showdown
NEW YORK — The Atlanta Hawks (22-19) and New York Knicks (27-16) are set to clash Monday night at Madison Square Garden in a pivotal Eastern Conference matchup. The game, scheduled for January 20, 2025, comes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, adding significance to the already high-stakes contest.
The Hawks are riding high after a thrilling 119-115 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, led by Trae Young’s 28-point performance. Meanwhile, the Knicks have struggled with inconsistency, winning only four of their last 10 games, including a disappointing 116-99 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Atlanta enters the game with an 11-11 road record and a -2 point differential, while New York has gone 5-5 in its last 10 home games. The Knicks will have Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart available, both of whom were previously listed as questionable. Towns’ presence could test Hawks’ rising star Onyeka Okongwu, who has been averaging 18.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks over his last three games.
Trae Young and Jalen Brunson are expected to headline the matchup, with Young’s improved defense and Brunson’s offensive prowess likely to play key roles. DeAndre Hunter, who scored 16 points off the bench against Boston, will need to find his shooting rhythm for Atlanta to secure a win. The Hawks have already defeated the Knicks twice this season, adding another layer of intrigue to the rivalry.
According to Rohan Raman, a sports analyst, the Knicks boast one of the league’s most potent offenses, ranking seventh in points per game and third in field goal percentage. However, their defense has been inconsistent, ranking 19th in field goal percentage allowed. The Hawks, on the other hand, rank 28th in points allowed per game but have been strong on the boards, ranking fifth in rebounding.
Betting odds favor the Knicks, with an implied team point total of 114.42 compared to the Hawks’ 109.99. Brad Thomas, a sports betting analyst, highlighted OG Anunoby as a potential key player, citing his rebounding potential against Atlanta’s defense. “OG Anunoby is my favorite sneaky rebounder,” Thomas said. “With Josh Hart questionable, his opportunities increase significantly.”
This game could have playoff implications, as both teams are jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks and Knicks have a history of memorable matchups, including a first-round playoff series in 2021, and this contest could set the stage for another postseason showdown.