New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks Preview: How, Who to Watch in Potential Recovery

Both the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are coming off heartbreaking losses on opening night.

In the words of Yogi Berra, it's getting late early out there.

Obviously. no NBA season or fate will be decided in October, but an early test awaits the New York Knicks to close the month out. Fresh off their opening night loss to the Boston Celtics, New York embarks on a three-game road trip that tips off on Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks. 

Both New York and Atlanta are coming off heartbreaking losses on Wednesday: the Knicks nearly inched their way back from a 12-point deficit at home against Boston but fell just short of completion to the tune of a 108-104 final. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley led the way with 24 points each, picking up the offensive slack for Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle (11-of-43 from the field). Atlanta, on the other hand, dropped a 116-110 decision to the Charlotte Hornets on the road. Star attraction Trae Young had 23 points in defeat but shot 4-of-19 from the field.

This will be the first of three meetings between New York and Atlanta and the Knicks will return to Peach State in two weeks for a rematch on Nov. 15. The two sides split four meetings last season, going 1-1 on each's home court. 

What: New York Knicks (0-1) @ Atlanta Hawks (0-1) 

Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

When/Watch: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG

Who's Favored: ATL -1

Keep An Eye On: Jalen Brunson

Brunson's follow-up to his breakout season created the first sign of self-induced adversity during his time in New York. Adding Brunson was done in the name of solving the Knicks' backcourt issues made abundantly apparent when Young claimed the Garden for his own during the 2021 postseason. Now they'll do battle with each side looking to avoid an early deficit on the NBA ledger. Brunson has responded to every task he's been issued in the early going. Another awaits as the Knicks hit the road.

Hawk to Watch: Clint Capela

For all their faults on Wednesday, the Knicks actually did a solid job on the glass, earning 17 second chances compared to only seven for Boston (five alone for Isaiah Hartenstein off the bench). While any visit to Atlanta centers on the supposed rivalry with Young, the Knicks will have to clean up the interior act against Capela, who put up 15 points and 13 rebounds (six offensive) in the loss to Charlotte. With the Knicks losing some length thanks to the Obi Toppin trade, it'll be up to Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, and Josh Hart carry over Wednesday's effort. 

They Said It

“I think obviously, we shot the threes well, but we didn’t shoot our free throws well and they did ... So there were a couple of sequences late in the clock where we had played really good defense and then we baile and then there were a couple of sequences where they made tough shots that we defended extremely well on the play and they made them.”-Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau on shooting 14-of-26 from the foul line vs. Boston (h/t Peter Botte, New York Post)

Prediction

Last season could've gone haywire in several different ways for the Knicks but they always managed to recover just in time, well enough to at least secure the most lucrative season in a decade. An 0-2 start obviously wouldn't be the end of the world in an 82-game grind but it's certainly something they'd like to avoid. The Knicks' experience in recovery gives them the edge in this one, adding another chapter to the misconstrued rivalry with Young and the Hawks. 

Knicks 114, Hawks 108