The New York Knicks (15-9) will face off against F. Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks (13-12) tonight in the quarterfinals of the NBA Emirates Cup. The winner will advance to Saturday’s semifinal game against the Bucks in Vegas. If the Knicks lose, they will play the Magic in Orlando on Sunday, per Ian Begley (SNY).
The Knicks have won 12 of their last 18 tries, including a gritty 113-108 victory in Toronto on Monday against a highly motivated RJ Barrett. One of their losses came against the Hawks, however—121-116 in Georgia on November 6. The Birds recently ended a six-game win-streak with a 141-111 blow-out to the Denver Nuggets. Their winning stretch included two dubs over the Cleveland Cavaliers, though, and one over the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the November loss, rookie Zaccharie Risacher season-high 33 points led the Hawks. Karl-Anthony Towns had a 34-point, 16-board double-double for the Knicks. The ‘Bockers will look to avenge that loss on their home court tonight. They might not be at full strength, however, with Towns listed as probable (knee) and Josh Hart as questionable (sprained ankle).
F. Trae Young remains the engine of the Hawks’ offense, leading the NBA with 12.2 assists per game. He’s listed as Day-to-Day on the injury report, but expect him to tape that pesky Achilles and give it a go. Alongside F. Trae in the backcourt will be Dyson Daniels. The Aussie (13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists) can’t shoot for beans, but his defense is top-notch. He averages 3.2 steals per game. Protect the ball, Knicks! New York surrendered the fourth-fewest turnovers this season, but they’ve averaged 12.6 turnovers in their last 10 games.
Rookie Zaccharie Risacher (11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds), who pasted 33 points on the Knicks in their previous matchup, could be in the starting lineup if small forward De’Andre Hunter sits. Larry Nance, Jr. (8.7 points, 2.6 rebounds) could start at power forward if Jalen Johnson’s shoulder prevents him from playing. Rounding out the frontcourt will be Clint Capela (10.2 points, 9.3 rebounds) at center.
Hawks Injury Report
De’Andre Hunter (injury unspecified), probable
F. Trae Young (Achilles), probable.
Jalen Johnson (shoulder), questionable
Bogdan Bogdanovic (quadriceps), questionable
Cody Zeller (personal), out
Prediction
ESPN favors the Knicks to win at 65%. Seems generous. With both teams fighting for that semifinal spot, expect to see claws and talons tonight. The Hawks play at the NBA’s third-fastest pace and average the eighth-most points. Against a potent offense, the Knicks will need a strong showing from wing Mikal Bridges. He has emerged as a critical player for the Knicks, hitting his stride in December with an average of 22.4 points per game while shooting 45% from downtown. We expect another laudable game from Mikal, and, with up to $515,000 in potential earnings at stake, all those questionable or probable players will probably take the court tonight. New York toughs it out: +5.
Game Details
Date: December 11, 2024
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN, MSG
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