Media by Associated Press – Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, is defended by New York Knicks guards Quentin Grimes (6) and Miles McBride (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in New York. The Knicks won 92-81. (AP Photo/John Munson)
The magic of an NBA playoff series is that it can create a rivalry that lingers for several seasons afterward.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young was able to draw the ire of New York Knicks fans due to his fantastic play in a first-round playoff series a few years back.
While the anger toward him may never be replicated if they don’t play in the playoffs again, he has at least laid the foundation for a rivalry.
Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks (-1.5)
The Knicks and Hawks will both be relatively healthy Thursday night and should have a tight matchup with one another. New York, which is 11-13 straight up and is 10-12-2 against the spread, is coming off an 11-point win over Cleveland. The Knicks have struggled shooting from the perimeter.
New York is only knocking down 31.3 percent of its 3-pointers, which ranks 30th in the league. The Knicks’ defense is OK, but nothing spectacular. New York is limiting opponents to 45.1 percent shooting, which is third-best in the league but is still 19th in scoring defense.
Atlanta also struggles to knock down outside shots. The Hawks only make 32.7 percent of their attempts, which is 26th in the league. Atlanta is in the middle of the league of most offensive categories.
The Hawks’ offense is in a similar situation, ranking mostly in the middle of the league. Trae Young leads Atlanta by scoring 27.6 points and handing out 9.6 assists per game. New York will grab a narrow home win.
Indiana Pacers at Minnesota Timberwolves (-4.5)
Minnesota has had a rough go of things. Last season, the Timberwolves looked like a franchise during the playoffs that had turned a corner. But the first quarter of this season shows Minnesota still has some work to do. The Timberwolves, who are 11-12 straight up and 8-15 against the spread, have struggled on defense.
Minnesota allows its opponents to shoot 37.4 percent from the 3-point line and to score 116.1 points per game. The Timberwolves’ offense, which is led by 23 points per game from Anthony Edwards, is in the top 10 in scoring. Indiana is off to a strong start, putting up a 13-11 record, and is 14-10 against the spread.
The Pacers haven’t been the most efficient offense. Indiana has scored 115 points per game despite shooting 45 percent from the field. Defensively, the Pacers have been OK, and those numbers may eventually allow teams to grab more wins against Indiana.
Boston Celtics at Phoenix Suns (+1.5)
The Suns will welcome the Celtics to the desert, hoping to get back on the right track. Phoenix has lost two of its past three games, including a 19-point loss to Dallas last time out. The Suns have been good on offense this season.
Phoenix is shooting 38.4 percent from the 3-point line, which is third-best in the league. Boston has built from the momentum of making the finals last season and is off to a 20-5 start straight up and is 16-9 against the spread. Phoenix is 12-2 straight up at home and will trip up the excellent Celtics.
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