Knicks vs. Hawks SGP predictions Dec. 27: Jalen Brunson should guide New York to comfortable road win

Brunson has 3+ threes in five of six games vs. Atlanta since the start of the 2023-24 season. Photo by David Zalubowski/AP.
Brunson has 3+ threes in five of six games vs. Atlanta since the start of the 2023-24 season. Photo by David Zalubowski/AP.

The New York Knicks embark on a three-game road trip to conclude 2025, starting with a Saturday night showdown against the Atlanta Hawks.

The pregame narrative: New York swept last year's season series against Atlanta, a team that has lost five in a row. At home, the Hawks are just 5-10 SU (4-11 ATS).

Check out my Knicks vs. Hawks SGP predictions for Dec. 27, featuring prop bets on Jalen Brunson and Jalen Johnson.

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Knicks vs. Hawks predictions

Parlay: Knicks -5.5 | Brunson 3+ threes | Johnson 10+ rebounds (+410)

Knicks -5.5 (-141): Beating the teams you're supposed to beat will carry you a long way in pro sports.

The Knicks are absolutely doing that this season, which helps explain why they're in second place in the Eastern Conference with January nearing.

When favoured by 5.5 points or more, New York is 12-1 ATS so far this season. The last time the Knicks laid at least that many points on the road, they won by 16 (in Toronto on Dec. 9).

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New York and Atlanta haven't squared off yet this season, but the Knicks went 3-0 SU in this matchup last year.

Two of those wins covered this margin, including a 121-105 road victory in April.

NBA SGP legs

Brunson 3+ threes (-152): I'm not sure I'd play this as a straight wager, only because of how juiced the prop is. But it's right in the wheelhouse for this SGP.

  • Brunson is coming off substantial 3-point shot volume in his past two games, going 12-for-25 from deep in that span. He cashed this bet easily both times.
  • In six games vs. Atlanta since the start of the 2023-24 season, Brunson is 5-1 vs. this prop. He's averaging 4.3 makes on 8.5 attempts in those matchups.

-> Back the Jalens (Brunson and Johnson) on Saturday night

The Hawks have been a down-the-middle matchup for opposing 3-point shooters this season, but I'm loving Brunson's recent performances against them.

And for a guy averaging 3.3 threes on 39.8% shooting this month, this looks like a smash play.

Johnson 10+ rebounds (-150): Josh Hart (ankle) won't play for New York tonight, which makes every Atlanta rebounder's job easier.

That includes Johnson, though he's a good pick to hit this rebounding milestone no matter who else is under the rim.

Johnson is averaging 10.4 rebounds this season and is 18-11 vs. this prop.

He's been particularly successful on the glass recently, going 10-2 vs. this prop in his past 12 games. The 6-foot-8 forward finished with nine rebounds in both outliers.

Johnson had 42 rebounds across three matchups vs. the Knicks last year, cashing this prop all three times.

Knicks vs. Hawks predictions made at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2025.

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