Hawks Face Knicks Hoping to End a Painful Five-Game Skid
Atlanta is heading into a tough matchup against New York with one clear goal in mind: stopping the bleeding. The Hawks have dropped five straight games, and now they’re set to face one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks, in what will be the first meeting between these two teams this season. On paper, it’s a challenging task, but it’s also a chance for Atlanta to reset the tone of its season.
Right now, the Hawks sit at 15–17, holding the 10th spot in the East. A lot has gone wrong during this recent stretch, especially on the defensive end. Over their last 10 games, Atlanta has allowed nearly 129 points per contest, which explains why wins have been hard to come by. Still, the offense hasn’t completely disappeared. The Hawks are averaging close to 120 points per game in that span, and their fast-break attack remains one of the best in the league. A big part of that comes from Jalen Johnson, who has been outstanding, shooting over 52 percent from the field while putting up nearly 24 points a night. His ability to push the pace has kept Atlanta competitive even when things have spiraled late in games.
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Trae Young’s shooting from deep has also stood out recently, with five made three-pointers per game over the last 10 outings. That kind of production gives Atlanta hope, especially against a Knicks defense that will be tested by quick ball movement and transition scoring.
On the other side, New York comes into this matchup with confidence and momentum. The Knicks are 21–9, sitting second in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve won eight of their last 10 games. What stands out most is their consistency. They’re scoring just over 120 points per game while holding opponents to 113 during this stretch, which speaks volumes about their balance on both ends of the floor.
Jalen Brunson continues to be the engine for New York, averaging over 29 points per game while also facilitating the offense. Inside, the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns has made a difference on the glass, with the Knicks ranking among the league’s best rebounding teams. That could be a key factor, especially against an Atlanta squad that has struggled to control possessions during its losing streak.
Injuries will play a role as well. Atlanta remains without Kristaps Porzingis and rookie N’Faly Dante, while New York will be missing key contributors like Josh Hart and Landry Shamet, with Miles McBride listed as day-to-day. Even so, the Knicks are favored, and expectations are clearly on their side.
For Atlanta, this game feels bigger than just another regular-season matchup. A win could finally stop the slide and inject some belief back into the locker room. A loss, however, would extend the skid and raise even more questions about where this season is heading.
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