Knicks vs. Hawks Preview: How, Who to Watch in Vital Homestand Opener
The New York Knicks have a prime opportunity to prove that there's no place like home.
Riding the momentum of an emotional victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, the Knicks now face a four-game homestand that begins on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. New York will face Atlanta, Orlando, and a back-to-back with Philadelphia before embarking on a road trip enforced by the annual arrival of the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament.
Time will tell if the Knicks are forced to make this journey without Jalen Brunson, whose medical removal in the opening minute of Sunday's game dominated headlines. Brunson is officially listed as questionable on Tuesday's injury report. With Brunson reduced to a spectator, the Knicks enjoyed strong outings from Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, and Miles McBride to secure a 107-98 win, helping them avoid their second three-game losing streak in three weeks.
Entering Tuesday play, Atlanta is still stationed at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, holding a 2.5-game advantage on Brooklyn for 10th place. The Hawks have dropped three of five since returning from the All-Star break, including two crucial contests at Barclays Center that allowed the Nets to draw close.
This will be the third and final meeting between the Knicks and Hawks this season but the first of the new calendar year. New York will go for its first sweep of the Hawks since the 2020-21 regular season after narrow victories in the first two go-arounds in Atlanta, the most recent being a 116-114 win In November, one supported by a clutch jumper by Brunson with just over 18 seconds remaining.
What: Atlanta Hawks (26-34) @ New York Knicks (36-25)
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
When/Watch: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG
Who's Favored: NYK -2.5
Keep An Eye On: Shake Milton
The Knicks' decision to sign Milton, confirmed by the team on Tuesday, looked particularly timely after Brunson needed assistance to the vistors' locker room on Sunday. While it appears that the Knicks have avoided any major medical disaster, Milton nonetheless has a chance to make an immediate impression, considering that the Knicks are, on paper, capable of beating the Hawks with or without him. New York obviously has some form of expectation buried in Milton, considering they got him on the postseason-eligible roster shortly before the deadline. Tuesday provides an immediate opportunity to vindicate that faith.
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Hawk to Watch: Dejounte Murray
With relations between Knicks and Klutch Sports reportedly thawing, the idea of Murray eventually playing a home game at Madison Square Garden has become ever so slightly more realistic. In the meantime, Murray is the undisputed Hawks headliner with supposed New York public enemy Trae Young still awaiting further clarity on a finger injury that has thrust the season into chaos. If Atlanta has a prayer of disrupting the postseason party, it'll come down to what Murray can ... or can't ... do.
They Said It
“I asked him if he was OK and he said he’ll be fine and that’s everything to me ... I don’t worry about Jalen. He’s one of the toughest guys in the league. So whatever it is, I truly can say, I don’t know. Whatever it is, he’s going to bounce back. He’s tough as nails.”-Donte DiVincenzo on Jalen Brunson's injury (h/t Stefan Bondy, New York Post)
Prediction
The Hawks are a team that the Knicks should be able to beat with or without Brunson, even in their current state. Riding the momentum of an emotional win in Cleveland should only help them as they're trying to press forward and inch closer toward homecourt advantage in round one. The Knicks are aware of the stakes in the past, present, and future. It'll perhaps be closer than most would prefer, but expect the Knicks to prevail.
