The New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks will face off at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, with Karl-Anthony Towns & Co. looking to book their spot in the NBA Cup semifinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ESPN.
Trae Young has been a nightmare for Knicks fans at MSG in the past, but on Wednesday, our Knicks vs. Hawks predictions and top NBA picks expect New York to shut down Ice Trae and punch their ticket to Las Vegas
Hawks vs Knicks SGP - December 11
Karl-Anthony Towns 30+ points
Karl-Anthony Towns 3+ threes
Knicks moneyline
When you see Karl-Anthony Towns listed as an alternate Over on his points total, the main question is likely: why not Jalen Brunson? Brunson will have to contend with Dyson Daniels, known as the 'Great Barrier Thief,' who's a frontrunner for NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Brunson, as a smaller guard, will face a significant challenge from Daniels, whose 6-foot-11 wingspan and exceptional lateral movement could effectively disrupt Brunson’s mid-range game.
On the other hand, Towns’ primary defender will be Clint Capela. While Capela has the size to guard Towns at 6-foot-10, he lacks the foot speed to keep up with KAT's ability to attack off the dribble. Atlanta's backup center, Onyeka Okongwu, is only 6-foot-8 and would be giving up too much size to be an effective counter. Considering the matchups, Towns has a clear advantage, and let’s be honest — he’s riding high after his big performance in Toronto on Monday.
The 3+ threes made for Towns also align well with the matchups. Capela will likely need to give Towns a step on the perimeter to compensate for his slower foot speed, leaving Towns opportunities to shoot from beyond the arc. If Daniels successfully stifles Brunson's offense, Brunson will look to kick out to shooters on his drives, further increasing KAT's 3-point opportunities.
The Hawks aren’t a strong defensive team overall, which means players like Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart should be able to penetrate the lane and create offense. As the primary rim protector, Capela will be forced to help, leaving Towns open for several looks from 3-point range. In their most recent matchup on November 6, Towns attempted nine threes.
Trae Young has historically been a nightmare for the Knicks, particularly at MSG, often leading the Hawks to upset victories. However, this Hawks team is not at full strength. Both Jalen Johnson and Bogdan Bogdanovic missed Sunday’s game due to injury and are questionable for this matchup. For that reason, I'll add Knicks moneyline. With a trip to Sin City for the NBA Cup semifinals on the line, the Knicks won’t be caught sleepwalking.
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