Hawks vs Knicks: Game Preview, Injury Report, Projected Starting Lineups

Can Atlanta defeat the Knicks on Wednesday night?

Atlanta went on the road without their best player last night and got a win over the Detroit Pistons and now the Hawks have to rebound (pun intended) and beat the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. This is the second matchup of the season between these two teams and the Knicks are the first team that Atlanta will have played multiple times this season. 

The Knicks will get the benefit of having rest coming into this game. New York played on Monday night against the Boston Celtics and lost. 

There are a couple of potential absences to monitor in this one. Trae Young missed the game last night (for personal reasons) and RJ Barett was added to the Knicks injury report last night. If both players are in, you will get to see a matchup of mostly healthy teams that are fighting for a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference.  

Let's break down the matchup between these two teams. 

Game Preview

There is not a lot different between these two teams from when they last met. The Hawks are one of the top offenses in the NBA and the Knicks are one of the best defenses in the NBA. New York is one of the top rebounding teams in the and they don't turn the ball over. 

Atlanta is fourth in the NBA in PPG (120.9), 13th in field goal percentage, 18th in three-point field goal percentage, 9th in rebounding, sixth in steals per game, and 22nd in turnovers per game. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 5th in points per 100 possessions, 12th in effective field goal percentage, 4th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 3rd in free throw rate. If Young does not play, it will be up to Dejounte Murray to be able to lead the offense again and he will need help from the supporting cast that includes Bogdanovic, Hunter, and Johnson. Capela and Johnson have helped the Hawks become one of the top rebounding teams in the NBA, but they will have their hands full with Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle. 

De'Andre Hunter scored 27 points against the Knicks in the last game between the teams / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

New York is a really good defensive team. They play at a slow pace on offense which limits the amount of possessions you'll get and they don't turn the ball over. Couple that with good defense and you have a tough team to beat. The Knicks are 2nd in PPG allowed this season, 16th in field goal percentage allowed, and 17th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, New York is 4th in points per 100 possessions allowed and 16th in effective field goal percentage allowed. 

The last time these two teams played, the Hawks let the Knicks hit 20 three-pointers and they could not stop their offense. The Knick's offense is the clear weakness of their team, but Atlanta's defense is theirs. 

The Knicks are 28th in PPG, last in field goal percentage, 12th in three-point percentage, 2nd in rebounding, and 2nd in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, New York is 11th in points per 100 possessions, 29th in effective field goal percentage, 5th in turnover rate, 1st in offensive rebounding percentage, and 17th in free throw rate. 

Brunson is by far the most reliable offensive weapon on this Knicks team and Barrett has been second this year. Randle has had a disappointing year this season but he will have to be better if Barrett does not play. 

The Hawks defense has not been great this year. Atlanta is 23rd in PPG allowed, 24th in field goal percentage allowed, and 18th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are 15th in points per 100 possessions allowed, and 21st in effective field goal percentage allowed. The Hawks are one of the top teams in the NBA in causing turnovers. 

Injury reports

Neither team has released their injury report for tonight. Keep a close eye on this for news on whether Young or Barrett plays in this game. 

Viewing and Betting Information

Tip-off time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast

Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks are currently underdogs tonight, as they are currently 1.5 point underdogs according to the latest odds from the SI Sportsbook and the over/under is set at 228.5

Projected starting lineups

Will Trae Young rejoin the Hawks starting lineup tonight vs the Knicks? / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Starting Lineups

Hawks:

G- Trae Young

G- Dejounte Murray

F- De'Andre Hunter

F- Jalen Johnson

C- Clint Capela

If Young is out, look for Bogdanovic to get the start again for the Hawks. 

Knicks:

G- Jalen Brunson

G- Quentin Grimes

F- RJ Barrett

F- Julius Randle

C- Mitchell Robinson

If Barrett is out, I would suspect that Josh Hart will get the start. 

Player to Watch for the Hawks: Clint Capela

Capela is one of the top rebounders in the NBA and a really good defender, but Mitchell Robinson is just as good. The Knicks are a great rebounding team and give their offense second chances because of their ability on the boards. Capela will have to win the battle against Robinson tonight to give the Hawks a chance. 

Player to Watch for the Knicks: Jalen Brunson

If Barrett is out, Brunson is going to have to shoulder the load on the offensive end for the Knicks. He had a great game against the Hawks last time in Atlanta and it will be interesting to see the Hawks matchup plans for him tonight. 

Prediction

It is tough to predict how this game is going to turn out due to the injury report. The Hawks are on a back-to-back and the Knicks are not and I think that is going to be the difference. The Knicks are a tough team to beat and I think New York gets another win in Atlanta. 

Prediction: Knicks 109, Hawks 103

Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks: Start time, where to watch, betting odds

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