Game Preview: Knicks vs Hawks, January 20, 2025

01/20/2025 10:35 AM

The Hawks are hot and the Knicks are not.

Today at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks (27-16) will face off against the Atlanta Hawks (22-19) in a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day matinee. The Knicks will play the Hawks a grand total of five times this season and have already dropped two (November 6 and December 11). Today's game is scheduled for 3:00 PM EST. Plan your snacks and meals accordingly.

Led by F. Trae Young, averaging 23.2 points and 11.8 assists per game, the Hawks are riding a wave of three consecutive wins, including an overtime triumph over the Boston Celtics on Saturday. In contrast, the Knicks have hit a rough patch, with a record of 4-6 in their last 10 games, and most recently failing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in bummer.

In their last meeting on December 11, 2024, at MSG, the Peaches beat the Knicks 108-100 and advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals. F. Trae (with the curious hair) led the Hawks with 22 points and 11 assists, while De'Andre Hunter added a game-high 24 points. For the Knicks, Josh Hart topped the scoring sheet with 21 points. The Hawks' frontcourt, notably Jalen Johnson (21 points, 15 boards) and Clint Capela (11 points, 13 rebounds), played a key role in their victory. Today, with Karl-Anthony Towns nursing a sprained thumb and Josh Hart dealing with a shoulder problem, New York's frontcourt could be at an even greater disadvantage. Might a 40-minute Precious Achiuwa game await us?

Coincidentally, injuries might also bail the Knicks out today. Atlanta's F. Trae has an Achilles issue and flagged as a game-time decision. Rookie forward Zaccharie Risacher will sit due to a thigh issue. Fellow starting forward Jalen Johnson (GTD) is suffering through right shoulder inflammation. Other birds stuck to the bench this afternoon: reserve forward Larry Nance, Jr. is recovering from hand surgery and center Cody Zeller might miss the game due to personal reasons.

Injured or not, F. Trae will not miss an opportunity to revive his role as a Broadway villain. The bastard rolled dice on the Knicks logo at the end of the last game—his evil heart beats for this. Beside him in the starting unit, that lanky human vacuum cleaner Dyson Daniels is a steal machine and gives Jalen Brunson fits. In the Boston game, coach Quin Snyder started a guy named Vít Krejčí, who logged three blocks in his 26 minutes. Who's that, you ask?

The 24-year-old Krejčí (6'8", 195 lbs), born in Strakonice, Czech Republic, was drafted 37th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2020, He played in Spain with Zaragoza before playing for the Thunder during the 2021-2022 season. He recently signed a four-year, $10 million deal to return to the Hawks. Reputed to be a versatile point and shooting guard, Krejčí has demonstrated potential as a shooter. Buckle up: he's our pick for Random Dude Sets a Career-High From Deep today.

Rounding out the first five: if Johnson can't play, look for De'Andre Hunter to start beside center Clint Capela, who always gives New York trouble.

Prediction

ESPN.com favors the Knicks at 59%. What a jinx. One of these teams is feeling pretty confident, while the other is watching the door, wondering when the reinforcements are coming. This game could very well serve as a preview of a potential playoff matchup, with the Knicks currently in third place and the Hawks in sixth. Will the Knicks finally lock down the perimter, or will another mediocre shooting team have a banner day from deep? Will New York win the glass, or will Atlanta, a very good rebounding team, dominate the paint? Will coach Tom Thibodeau stagger minutes so that his starters are fresh in the final frame, or will the Hawks fly away with a win while a gassed bunch of 'Bockers, hands on knees, look on plaintively?

We object to these questions, sir. Hey, if they win today, the Knicks' recent sins will all be (temporarily) forgiven. Lose, and the city should put nets around the high-rises to catch the jumpers. My money's on the latter. Knicks by -3.

Game Details

Teams: New York Knicks (27-16) vs. Atlanta Hawks (22-19)

Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Start Time: 3:00 PM ET

Broadcast: MSG

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