What's Christmas Day without some basketball action? This December 25 there are five games on the NBA betting board, beginning with a clash between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks at noon ET.
Unfortunately, 10 players between these teams are likely to miss out on the game due to the league's health and safety protocols. But the Whos in Whoville didn't let the Grinch ruin Christmas with his brazen robbery and we won't let the outbreak ruin our mood on this day either! So here are our best free Hawks vs Knicks NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, December 25.
Hawks vs Knicks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
This line opened with the Knicks installed as 4.5-point home favorites with the Over/Under at 213. Early money has come in on New York and the Under, shifting the line to the Knicks -5.5, and the total to 211.5, with 212.5 still available at select books.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Hawks vs Knicks predictions
Predictions made on 12/24/2021 at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Hawks vs Knicks game info
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Date: Saturday, December 25, 2021
• Tip-off: 12:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
Hawks vs Knicks betting preview
Injuries
Hawks: Trae Young PG (Out), Cam Reddish F (Probable), Delon Wright PG (Probable), Clint Capela C (Out), Danilo Gallinari F (Out), Kevin Huerter SG (Out), Onyeka Okongwu C (Out), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot SG (Out), Lou Williams G (Out), DeAndre Hunter F, Solomon Hill F (Out).
Knicks: Nerlens Noel C (Out), Kevin Knox II SF (Out), Miles McBride PG (Out), Immanuel Quickley PG (Out), Derrick Rose PG (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these Eastern Conference foes. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Knicks.
Hawks vs Knicks picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
New York is fresh off a 124-117 loss to the Washington Wizards and is just 2-6 SU and ATS in its last eight games to fall to 12th place in the Eastern Conference with a 14-18 record.
The Hawks are coming off a 98-96 victory over the 76ers as 11-point road underdogs on Thursday night. Despite that win, Atlanta is just 3-6 SU and ATS in its last nine games and will need another big game from Johns Collins and Cam Reddish if it wants to be competitive in this one.
The Hawks were going through a disappointing season even before the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, and now their lineup is decimated with six players in the protocols — including superstar guard Trae Young and rebounding machine Clint Capela.
A third starter, Kevin Huerter, tested positive on Wednesday, joining key reserves Danilo Gallinari, Lou Williams, Onyeka Okongwu, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot in quarantine. Add in the continued absence of two-way stud De'Andre Hunter — who simply can't find a way to stay healthy — and this is a squad that is absolutely gutted.
While the Knicks currently have four players on the health and safety protocol list, their starting lineup is now intact after R.J. Barrett was cleared on Thursday. Their biggest loss at the moment is sixth man Derrick Rose, who underwent ankle surgery earlier this week.
Interestingly enough, the injury to Rose may have actually been a blessing in disguise, because it brought Kemba Walker out of the doghouse. The four-time All-Star had been removed from the rotation by coach Tom Thibodeau in late November, but returned to the starting lineup last Saturday, and has since scored more than 20 points in three straight games, including a 44-point, nine-rebound, eight-assist performance on Thursday.
Comparing these starting lineups side by side, the Knicks clearly have the superior team at the moment. The Hawks may have pulled off the short-handed road win on Thursday but they'll have a tough time doing it again on Christmas.
Prediction: Knicks -5.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
Without Young and his 27.3 points per game, the Hawks have really struggled to put the ball in the bucket over their last two contests. They scored just 98 points in both games, and with Delon Wright and Skylar Mays sharing the backcourt against the Sixers, they played at a very slow tempo.
Capela and Huerter are also valuable contributors on that side of the ball and will be missed. Capela ranks second in the league with 4.0 offensive rebounds per game while averaging 11.5 ppg on 57.5 percent shooting, while Huerter is a strong outside shooter and an underrated ball-handler and passer.
The Knicks aren't the defensive studs they were last season, but they're still limiting foes to a field goal percentage of 44.3, good for tenth in the league. And despite strong offensive players including Julius Randle (19.8 ppg), Barrett (15.1 ppg), and the newly-revitalized Walker, the Knicks are averaging just 105.6 ppg at home.
The Under has also cashed in five of the last six games in the head-to-head, with an average total of just 199 points scored in those six meetings. With the Knicks going 8-3 to the Under in their last 11 games at Madison Square Garden, bet on this game to go below the total.
Prediction: Under 211.5 (-110)
Best bet
The Knicks have been terrible at covering the spread at home this season, going just 5-12 ATS in 17 games at MSG. However, this is not a normal matchup. The Hawks are likely without four players that would normally log more than 25 minutes (including their best player in Young), while also missing four other key rotation pieces.
The Knicks have been underachieving, but a starting lineup of Walker, Evan Fournier, Barrett, Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, along with Alec Burks as the sixth man is a formidable unit compared to Atlanta's current rotation. While their depth has been affected, Thibodeau is the sort of coach that will just give his starters more burn instead of giving minutes to fringe players.
This looks like a gift-wrapped victory for the Knicks on Christmas Day and with this line still at a reasonable -5.5, bettors should be sure to unwrap it before it gets any bigger.
Pick: Knicks -5.5 (-110)
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