The Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young will put on another show against the New York Knicks
March 22, 2022
Hawks at Knicks
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
7:30 PM ET
Utah -3.5
Big-time players shine on the biggest stages. That axiom has been true in the NBA for as long as the league has been around.
That certainly was the case last year in the playoffs for Trae Young. In the first round, he seemed to will his Hawks to an upset of the Knicks. And he did in in large part via command performances at Madison Square Garden, arguably the biggest stage in pro basketball.
In three games in New York during the series, Young scored 32, 30 and 36 points, leading Atlanta to a pair of wins, including the clincher in Game 5. But it wasn’t just his stats that made it memorable. The guard’s banter with the crowd at the Garden was the stuff of legend, immediately putting him in a category with visiting villains such as Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller.
The rivalry was set to have a new chapter written on Christmas Day, but Young was unable to play due to COVID protocols. So tonight will be his first trip back to what Knicks fans probably consider the scene of the crime.
It’ll be electric. It’ll be fun. It’ll be one worth watching.
Given the situation, look for Young to answer the bell. He’s struggled his last two games, scoring 21 against the Pelicans and just nine versus the Hornets. But those performances came on the heels of 46 against the Blazers and 47 versus the Pacers. Madison Square Garden is the perfect tonic for the guard’s mini-slump.
The Hawks are holding on to the No. 10 seed in the East. The Knicks are five games back of a playoff spot. So there won’t be a postseason rematch this year.
This is it. This is the show. And Trae Young will be ready to go.
Atlanta is 0-7 against the spread (ATS) in their last seven games as a favorite. Stay off the game. Go with the player.
Jason Schlefsky’s NBA pick:
Trae Young over 27.5 points (-118)
Tuesday’s Quick NBA Picks
Golden State -7.0 (-110)
Denver -7.0 (-110)
Monday’s NBA Winners
Philadelphia +1.5 (-110)
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