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NBA Betting: Atlanta Hawks Season Long Handicapping 4/6/2026 vs. New York Knicks

by Spencer Toth - 4/6/2026

NBA betting Atlanta Hawks season long handicapping vs New York Knicks Jalen Brunson

The final week of the NBA regular season is here, as the Atlanta Hawks look to book their place in the playoffs with a 2-2 record or better. All year long, we have been breaking down the Hawks’ matchups, providing best bets along the way. Our consistency has given us more than 90 units of profit so far, but the job is far from over. 

On Friday night, the Hawks took down the Brooklyn Nets 141-107, strengthening their grip on fifth place in the East. The Hawks used a 43-22 fourth quarter to pull away, finishing with a clip of more than 50% from behind the arc. Their hot shooting was a team effort, as seven players went into double digits, while 11 players scored multiple baskets, with 14 players getting on the scoresheet. CJ McCollum led the team with 25 points, while Onyeka Okongwu had a game-high +37 +/-. Atlanta’s offensive efficiency allowed them to pull away, giving them a 19-3 record since the NBA All-Star break. 

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From a betting perspective, we went 0-3, dropping our season profit back under 100 units in the green. We took under 225.5 total points, with the expectation that the Hawks would regress from three, but they did the opposite, exploding for 141 points. We also took Okongwu to secure over 7.5 rebounds and post a double double, but he finished with exactly 7 rebounds with 15 points. 

Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks (45-33) host the New York Knicks (50-28) in a potential first-round playoff preview. The Hawks have approximately a 25% chance of matching up with the Knicks in the first round, with the Cleveland Cavaliers their most likely opponent. The Hawks play the Knicks tonight and the Cavs on both Wednesday and Friday, giving them an opportunity to send a message to either of their first-round opponents. Atlanta has taken advantage of a soft schedule to go 19-3 in the last two months but will have their work cut out for them to clinch the fifth, or even sixth, seed in the East. A 2-2 record in their final four games would likely be enough for fifth, 1-3 would likely get them sixth, while a 0-4 finish would potentially drop them into a play-in tournament position. 

The Knicks and Hawks have a history of bad blood in recent seasons. Trae Young terrorized the franchise before joining Washington this year, shushing Madison Square Garden as the Hawks took down the Knicks 4-1 in the 2021 NBA playoffs. Their rivalry has blossomed into one of the more intense modern-day NBA rivalries, and this matchup, and a potential first-round meeting, will be incredibly hard-fought. 

Both teams are fully healthy for tonight outside of a Jock Landale illness, and the Hawks are very slight -130 home favorites. The Knicks have the Cavs nipping at their heels for the third seed, holding a one-game lead, while the Hawks have a quartet of teams that can still pass them before the playoffs begin. It is all to play for tonight. 

The Knicks are a well-rounded team that does a lot of the little things right. They are top-ten in rebounds, assists, turnovers, threes, and both offensive and defensive rating this season. Unlike previous editions of this team under Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks' new head coach, Mike Brown, has gone deeper into the bench and has avoided leaning primarily on their starters. The Knicks had three players in the top six in terms of minutes per game last year, but this year, they have just one in the top-25.

The duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns continues to operate at an elite level on the offensive end. Brunson is one of the best scorers in the league when given space on the open floor, and his ability to run the pick-and-roll with Towns has proven to be very effective. Towns is not afraid to drift behind the arc, which not only unlocks another deep-ball threat for New York, but it also draws rim protectors away from the hoop. Dyson Daniels will be draped on Brunson whenever possible, while the shot blocking may fall on Jalen Johnson if Okongwu is drawn onto the perimeter. Rounding out the Knicks' starting five, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges are three of the best defenders in the league. Anunoby is one of the last impactful three-and-D stars in the league, while Hart and Bridges can play 40 minutes per game while contributing on both ends of the floor. 

While Mike Brown has done a solid job at deepening the Knicks' bench, the Hawks still have a real depth advantage in this matchup. Both sides have a very strong starting five, with the Knicks getting the slight nod thanks to Brunson’s offense, and this one could come down to the bench. Atlanta consistently runs a 10-man or 11-man rotation, keeping their legs fresh at this stage of the season. They are at home and have more on the line in terms of seeding, so while the Knicks will want to send a message, the odds are right to favor the Hawks. Corey Kispert, Mouhammed Gueye, and Jonathan Kuminga are the best depth players available, so look for the Hawks to hang around in the first before getting a lead in the second. 

For the first bet of the night, we will take the -1.5 point spread with the Hawks. Atlanta has been red hot since the All-Star break, and it is hard to fade them with a minimal spread at home. With the playoffs around the corner and just seeding to play for, look for the Knicks to experiment with their bench, allowing Atlanta to thrive. The spread is nearly irrelevant, and taking the -110 odds for the Hawks to win by 2+ over the -120 moneyline is the way to go. 

In terms of the player props, there are a pair of unders I have my eyes on. For the first pick, we will take CJ McCollum to stay under 17.5 points. McCollum has cleared this line in three of his last five, but this is a nightmare matchup for him. On defense, he will get exposed by Brunson on the outside, and I expect his minutes to take a small hit as a result. On offense, he will have Hart, Bridges, or Anunoby on him, as Brunson will be on Dyson Daniels whenever possible. New York does a great job at slowing the pace on the road, cleaning the defensive glass, and stopping extra possessions. I don’t see McCollum getting enough minutes or doing enough with them to reach this total. 

For the second bet, we will take Onyeka Okongwu to stay under 21.5 points + rebounds. Okongwu is too small for Towns in the paint, and he will look to draw him away whenever possible to avoid getting dominated in the rebounding department. He will hit a three or two on offense, which will inflate this total, but I don’t see him scoring down low very often or collecting enough rebounds to reach this line. Gueye has also been solid off the bench, and we could see Okongwu take a slight step back in minutes with a tough week against the towering Cavaliers upcoming. 

Pick: Atlanta Hawks (-1.5) 3 Units

Pick: CJ McCollum Under 17.5 Points 2 Units

Pick: Onyeka Okongwu Under 21.5 Points + Rebounds 2 Units

2025-26 Season Record:
Moneyline: 16-6

Spread: 21-18

Total: 3-11

Player Props: 63-33

Overall: 104-67

Total Units: Up 94.8 Units 

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