New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks Game 6 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
The Hawks’ season is on the line in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series as it returns to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday night. The New York Knicks lead 3-2 and are 2.5-point favourites with a total of 213.5 points on the NBA odds.
Knicks vs. Hawks NBA Betting Odds
With Atlanta’s season on the line trailing 3-2, let’s quickly say that teams better beat the Hawks now because they might be nightmares as soon as next season. Why? Their only major unrestricted free agent is veteran guard CJ McCollum. The midseason trade acquisition has been terrific but is also 34, so he could be re-signed pretty cheaply.
But the big reason the rising Hawks might be mega-dangerous quickly is that they hold the better of two first-round picks in the loaded 2026 NBA draft between that of New Orleans or Milwaukee – both teams are in the lottery. If one of picks those lands in the top three and Atlanta gets someone like BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer or Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, then look out in 2026-27.
Even if Atlanta lands maybe just outside that the top three, it could package the pick with a second later first-rounder for a win-now younger veteran. It will be an interesting off-season for the Hawks. It won’t necessarily start Thursday night as a Game 7, if necessary, would be back at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
With New York up 3-2, it is now -700 on the series line (was -220 entering Game 5) and Atlanta +500 (was +180). I had liked Knicks in seven all along but having second thoughts following back-to-back double-digit victories.
New York Knicks
New York played its best game of the series by far if not in weeks in Game 5 in a 126-97 blowout victory. We had told you entering that superstar Jalen Brunson had been struggling in the series shooting only 41.6 per cent, but he blew up for 39 points on 15-for-23 from the field. Brunson wasn’t going to allow any big Hawks comeback in the fourth quarter this time as he had 17 of his points in the fourth Monday.
The main difference seemed to be Atlanta coach Quin Snyder opting to put excellent defender Dyson Daniels on Karl-Anthony Towns after KAT had a triple-double in Game 4. That opened things up for Brunson.
Former Raptor OG Anunoby had another strong game with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and an argument can be made he has been the team’s best player overall the entire series. Anunoby is averaging 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and shooting 54.2 per cent from deep.
Towns had another full line of 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in Game 5. Outside of Brunson, no Knicks player had more than eight field-goal attempts. New York is 8-2 ATS in its past 10.
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta has been held under 100 points in back-to-back games. The Hawks hadn’t been held under triple digits at all prior since March 20. It has been pretty clear the issue of late is veteran guard CJ McCollum. He was amazing the first three games, fell a bit back to earth in the Game 4 loss and then was simply bad Monday in shooting just 3-for-10 for six points.
Every Atlanta starter was at least minus-10 in Game 5. Toronto native Nickeil Alexander-Walker was solid from deep again at 4-for-9. NAW is shooting 43.6 per cent from deep in the series, the best of any Eastern Conference player and third-best among all in these playoffs (minimum 30 attempts).
Jalen Johnson is one of only six players in the postseason averaging at least 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steals. It’s just those two aren’t getting much help of late, specifically from McCollum or anyone on the bench short of Jonathan Kuminga. The Hawks are 16-16 all-time in Game 6s. Atlanta is 3-6 ATS in its past nine overall this season.
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