New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Thursday April 23, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | Apr 22, 2026, 8:13pm

Game 3 between the New York Knicks (1-1) and Atlanta Hawks (1-1) is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern on Amazon Prime. The Hawks had a 14-2 record and led the NBA in net rating at home after the All-Star break, so it will be difficult for the Knicks to steal both games on the road.

Knicks vs. Hawks Betting Analysis

New York entered the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead but only managed 15 points during the final frame. It was a complete collapse by the Knicks.

The minutes when Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns both rested were a disaster. They have now been off the court together for 20 minutes through two games, and Atlanta outscored New York by 13.5 points per 100 possessions during these minutes. Head coach Mike Brown has to stagger Brunson and Towns more often even though it means sacrificing some of their playing time together.

But the Hawks also deserve a ton of credit for staying composed and clawing their way back into the game. CJ McCollum scored 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the field and did an excellent job of hunting Brunson on the perimeter. His postseason experience is incredibly valuable for this relatively young Hawks squad.

Can Jalen Johnson bounce back? The All-Star is struggling to create separation and attack the basket, especially when Josh Hart is the primary defender. Whether it’s his scoring or playmaking, Johnson must improve at least one of these areas for the Hawks to win this series.

The best bet is taking Mitchell Robinson to score at least six points and at least eight points. He only saw one field goal attempt across 14 minutes in Game 1, but Robinson had a much better showing on the offensive glass in Game 2 and scored 13 points in 18 minutes.

It’s likely that New York staggers Brunson and Towns more after the meltdown. This means Robinson should receive more minutes with Brunson, who inherently pulls opposing bigs to him in pick-and-rolls and is capable of setting up easy lobs for Robinson.

Knicks vs. Hawks Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Mitchell Robinson O5.5 Points (+126)
Best Bet: Mitchell Robinson O7.5 Points (+301)
Score Prediction: Knicks 109, Hawks 106

Knicks vs. Hawks Game Odds

Knicks vs. Hawks Game Information

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Network: APVO
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Venue: State Farm Arena – 231.8 ppg; 17-24 O/U
Series Score: Tied 1-1

Knicks vs. Hawks Betting Resources

Knicks vs. Hawks Key Players

Knicks

Jalen Brunson – Last Game: 29 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns – Last Game: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
OG Anunoby – Last Game: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists

Hawks

Jalen Johnson – Last Game: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Last Game: 9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists
CJ McCollum – Last Game: 32 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.