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NBA Betting: Atlanta Hawks Season Long Handicapping 4/23/2026 vs. New York Knicks Game 3

by Spencer Toth - 4/22/2026

NBA betting Atlanta Hawks season long handicapping vs New York Knicks CJ McCollum

All season long, Doc’s Sports will be breaking down every Atlanta Hawks weekday matchup while providing best bets along the way. The playoffs are underway, the Hawks are heading home, and there is real optimism that this team could upset the Knicks to jumpstart their deep playoff run. 

In Game 1, the New York Knicks prevailed 113-102 to claim an early series lead. Jalen Brunson exploded for 19 first-quarter points before finishing with a game-high 28. New York’s lead reached 19 points before the Hawks tried to mount a late comeback, but the bright lights of MSG proved too much to overcome. 

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From a betting perspective, we went 1-3. We took the Hawks to cover the +5 point spread, and they fell short. We also took Onyeka Okongwu to stay under 7.5 rebounds, and he finished with eight. Our two smaller plays were both on threes, where we took both CJ McCollum’s and Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s overs. McCollum finished 4-for-9, cashing his prop, but Alexander-Walker finished one short as he went 3-for-8. 

In Game 2, the Atlanta Hawks overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to eclipse New York 107-106. Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns dominated early, with the Knicks taking and holding the lead during the entire first quarter. The Hawks took their first lead at 35-34, but the Knicks quickly jumped out ahead and stretched their advantage to double digits early in the third. Atlanta was getting crushed on the offensive glass, as New York held a 22-7 advantage in second-chance points, but Atlanta stormed back. CJ McCollum delivered clutch shot after clutch shot for the Hawks, finishing with a game-high 32 points. The Hawks went on a 24-9 run in the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, taking a 101-100 lead with two minutes to play. Despite a pair of missed free throws in the clutch for McCollum, the Hawks held on for a crucial win as this series shifts to Atlanta. 

Tonight, the Hawks have a real chance to strike fear into the hearts of a passionate Knicks fanbase as they get their first home game of the playoffs. The betting odds are essentially 50/50 as these two heated rivals face off in Game 3. 

There has been a lot to like about Atlanta through the first two games of this series, and lots that they need to work on if they hope to upset the Knicks. Let’s start with the good. 

CJ McCollum has turned back the clock and entered his villain era during his Hawks tenure. McCollum did not back down in the fourth in Game 2, and proved to be the spark the Hawks needed to silence the MSG crowd. If he keeps this up, it will quickly become “F*** CJ” instead of “F*** Trae Young” being heard echoing around the legendary MSG rafters. The Hawks have also been able to find success down low despite missing Jock Landale due to an ankle injury. Mouhammed Gueye stepped up admirably in his place and was leaned on heavily when Okongwu got into foul trouble in Game 2. Fourth-string Tony Bradley was also called on, and he finished +7 during his 12 minutes on the court in the last game. 

In terms of negatives, the Hawks will not win this series if their stars don’t step up. Jalen Johnson has been ineffective in all facets of the game, averaging 20/7/3 so far in the series. Alexander-Walker hasn’t been much better, going 9-for-29 from the floor after a sizzling regular season. The fact that the Hawks aren’t down 0-2 with those stats in mind is a real miracle, but they will need better offense from their biggest names in Game 3, and for the rest of this series. 

It will be fascinating to see how the Knicks react to their Game 2 collapse. Questionable coaching decisions, missed shots in the fourth, and poor defensive play led to their demise, and their backbone will be tested for the first time this year. Brunson and Towns comprise one of the best offensive duos in the league, but their inability to defend without fouling hurt them down the stretch. Atlanta’s swarming defense has done a good job of shutting down Towns and forcing someone else to beat them, but Brunson has still proven very effective at hitting big shots when the momentum is shifting. 

Heading to Atlanta for Game 3, a 1-1 scoreline is the best the Hawks could have hoped for after two games in New York. The Knicks have been one of the best home teams in the league this season, and Atlanta now holds home-court advantage thanks to their Game 2 victory. They haven’t been able to exploit the Knicks’ biggest defensive flaw, their three-point defense, but expect the Hawks to consistently fire it from deep in Game 3. Johnson is due for some positive regression, as is Alexander-Walker, and if McCollum can continue to elevate his game, the Hawks are suddenly a very dangerous team. 

For the first bet of the night, we will take over 216.5 points. I want to make a pick on the -110 moneyline but am fearful the Knicks will come out angry after their fourth-quarter collapse but also cannot fade the Hawks with an even line at home. Instead, look for both teams to push the pace. Atlanta’s best offense comes in transition, and New York hasn’t been able to quite slow them down. The Hawks get even faster at home, and I don’t expect Quinn Snyder to change the identity of his team during their home playoff debut. The two games so far have had 215 and 213 points, but when Johnson and Alexander-Walker bounce back, there will be 220+ points put on the board tonight. 

For the second pick of the night, we will be targeting Alexander-Walker. He has turned into a bit of a distributor against New York, but I expect OG Anunoby to guard Johnson more often and for Alexander-Walker to find some time with Brunson across from him. He averaged 3.2 makes from deep per game in the regular season, and we are now getting a fantastic price on him after a slow start to the series. The 3+ threes prop is at -190, and the 4+ threes prop is at +130, both of which I like to round out the Game 3 card.

Pick: Hawks vs Knicks Over 216.5 4 Units

Pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 2.5 Threes -190 3 Units

Pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 3.5 Threes +130 2 Units

2025-26 Season Record:
Moneyline: 16-6

Spread: 22-20

Total: 3-11

Player Props: 67-38

Overall: 109-74

Total Units: Up 81.2 Units 

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