Hawks vs Knicks Predictions, Best Bets & Injuries (Game 2)

• The New York Knicks aim to take a commanding 2-0 series lead at Madison Square Garden as they take on the Atlanta Hawks
• Will you be fading the public by hammering the Under in this matchup?
• You’ll have to keep scrolling to see the best bets, predictions, and injury reports for this Eastern Conference playoff matchup

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The New York Knicks hold a 1-0 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks after securing a hard-fought Game 1 victory. Heading into Game 2, the Knicks profile as home favorites looking to defend their sacred hardwood and take a commanding 2-0 advantage. Meanwhile, the Hawks step onto the court as live road underdogs, desperate to steal back home-court momentum before the series shifts to Atlanta.

I am absolutely hyped for this Eastern Conference clash. Elite point guard Jalen Brunson will aim to orchestrate another dazzling offensive showing in a slow half-court offense, but he has to outduel veteran sniper CJ McCollum.

Keep reading below to see exactly how I am betting this matchup, exploring key positional battles, matchup advantages, and actionable predictions to help you successfully navigate the playoff betting board!

Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks Odds

Odds as of April 20, 2026, at 2:29 PM ET from BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel

Let’s talk NBA odds! The Knicks are holding steady as 6.5-point home favorites following their decisive Game 1 victory. The game total is currently at 217.5, with slight juice leaning toward the Over (-108) in response to public anticipation of a track meet. The spread actually opened at 6.5, and the total at 216.5.

If you are looking to play the moneyline, a $20 wager on the heavily favored Knicks (-250) yields a profit of $8.00, giving you a total payout of $28.00. On the flip side, dropping a $20 bet on the underdog Hawks (+205) returns a sweet $41.00 profit for a total payout of $61.00. Once we strip away the bookmaker’s juice, the normalized, vig-free probabilities are 67.13% for New York and 32.87% for Atlanta, which sum to 100.00%.

Hawks vs Knicks Injury Reports

The injury report is heavily tilted toward the frontcourt, which could completely alter the battle in the trenches! Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson are listed as Day-to-Day for New York. If Towns cannot take the bump, the Knicks lose a dynamic floor-spacer. If Robinson sits, they lose their defensive anchor.

Unfortunately for Atlanta, they cannot fully capitalize. Backup center Jock Landale is officially OUT. The Hawks are already struggling on the glass, and missing Landale’s massive frame means their remaining bigs will be stretched dangerously thin. On the perimeter, Tyler Kolek is Day-to-Day, but with Brunson running the show, my betting strategy remains UNCHANGED.

Hawks vs Knicks Picks & Predictions

• Spread Pick: Knicks -6.5 (-115 at BetMGM)

When I break down the tape for Game 2, the situational trends SCREAM value for the home team extending their series lead. The Knicks are an absurdly dominant 7-1 (.875) straight up at Madison Square Garden following a win over their last eight home games. On the flip side, the Hawks are an abysmal 0-4 (.000) against the spread on the road as an underdog over their last four contests. Give me Knicks -6.5 (-110) all day long. New York secures an impressive 52.0% of all available rebounds, completely bullying Atlanta’s 49.1% rebounding rate. They will control the flow from the opening tip.

• Total Pick: Under 217.5 (-112 at FanDuel)

For the total, I am locking in the Under 217.5 (-112). New York’s defense completely locks down after securing a victory. In fact, the under is hitting at an incredibly high rate, as the over has only cashed in one of the Knicks’ last six games following a win (1-5, .167). The Hawks operate at a pace of 105.3 possessions per game (5th), while the Knicks are much slower, averaging 100.5 possessions per contest (28th).

• Player Prop Pick: Jalen Brunson over 26.5 points (-125 at Caesars)

Finally, we have to look at the prop market. Backing Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 Points (-125) is my absolute FAVORITE player prop on the board. He dropped 28 points in Game 1 and boasted a massive 35.2% usage rate. Brunson is going to relentlessly attack from the charity stripe and methodically dissect Atlanta’s defense every time he touches the rock. Brunson has scored at least 25 points in four straight games.

Odds as of April 20, 2026, at 2:29 PM ET from BetMGM, Caesars, and DraftKings

Hawks vs Knicks Public Betting Splits

Let’s peek behind the NBA public betting percentages and see where the money is flowing! Right now, the betting public is heavily favoring one side. On the moneyline, a massive 86% of the tickets and 95% of the money are backing New York to win outright. Bettors have zero hesitation laying the juice with the home favorites.

The spread market tells the exact same story. The Knicks are drawing 74% of the spread tickets and an even stronger 78% of the total money. This wave of cash perfectly aligns with my official prediction of Knicks -6.5.

But the total is where things get WILD. Bettors are heavily anticipating a shootout, with an overwhelming 93.0% of the tickets and a staggering 92% of the money flooding in on the OVER. This is where I am taking a HARD contrarian stance with my Under 217.5 pick. I love fading a market with over 92% of the money on one side when my defensive trends say otherwise! Keep in mind that there are no sharp vs public discrepancies here today, as both the ticket counts and money percentages are well past the 60% threshold across the board. The heavy cash is simply validating the casual public’s opinion.

How to Watch Hawks vs Knicks

Get your popcorn ready! This critical postseason clash tips off on April 20, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET. The game will be played at the legendary Madison Square Garden, and you can catch the national broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.