Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/21/2018

Friday, December 21, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Atlanta Hawks head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks on Friday, December 21, 2018. The opening line for this game has New York as 6 point favorites.

The Hawks have a record of 7-23. They are 5th in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -10.2 as they average 108.8 points per game while giving up 119.0 per contest. The Knicks have an overall mark of 9-24. They currently are 5th in the Atlantic Division. They total 108.6 points per contest and give up 115.9, which is a point differential of -7.3.

Valuable Atlanta Hawks Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks are 12-18-0 against the spread this season

The Atlanta Hawks are 17-13-0 against the over/under this year

Important New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 16-15-1 against the spread this season

The New York Knicks are 18-14-0 against the over/under this year

Key Atlanta Hawks Injuries

12/19/18 F Omari Spellman Hip is questionable Friday vs New York
12/12/18 SF Alex Poythress Ankle is out indefinitely
12/04/18 SF Taurean Prince Ankle is out indefinitely

Key New York Knicks Injuries

12/19/18 G Allonzo Trier Hamstring is questionable Friday vs Atlanta
12/19/18 C Mitchell Robinson Ankle is questionable Friday vs Atlanta
10/11/18 F Kristaps Porzingis Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Trae Young comes into this game averaging 15.5 points per contest while playing 29.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 7.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage is 79%. Kent Bazemore averages 13.2 points per contest in 27.0 minutes per game. He averages 2.7 assists per game and 3.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Tim Hardaway scores 21.2 points per contest while playing 33.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.1 rebounds per contest and has 2.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Enes Kanter averages 15.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 27.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 11.3 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Atlanta averages 108.8 points per contest, which is 21st in the league. Their average scoring margin is -10.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 25th. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They average 43.6 boards per contest and 25.2 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 8th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 1st with 18.2 per game. The Hawks allow 119.0 points per contest, which is 30th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 24th and 30th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.6 rebounds a game which ranks 27th, and they allow 27.7 assists per game which puts them in 30th place in the league. They force 16.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 29th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New York is 22nd in the NBA with 108.6 points per contest this season. They are 28th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -7.3. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 22nd in the league. They are 15th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.3 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 19.8. The Knicks are 20th in turnovers per contest with 13.7. The Knicks give up 115.9 points per game, which ranks them 27th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 29th and 27th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 26.0 dimes allowed per game and 26th with 46.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Knicks are 10th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawks are 28th in the league in defensive rating with 113.2, and their offensive rating of 103.5 is ranked 27th. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 105.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 21st. As a unit they are 22nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Atlanta is 1st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New York is 23rd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 55%, which is 2nd in the league. The Knicks are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.7, and their defensive rating of 114.9 is ranked 29th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 30th. As a team they are 26th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league.

Who will win tonight's Hawks/Knicks NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Atlanta +6

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