The Atlanta Hawks are gaining momentum with each game they play while the New York Knicks take two steps backwards for every step forward. The Hawks struggled last time they visited Madison Square Garden, but with the way the Knicks look, this time around could be different.
So far this year, Atlanta and New York have split their meetings with one another.The last time these two teams matched up, the Hawks shot a season-high 56.4 percent from the field as eight players hit double-digit points on the night that saw their four-game losing streak in New York come to an end. Al Horford had one of his best games of the season against the Knicks and looks to build off that for the future.
Horford has been on the rise lately, playing like one of the more efficient players in the league. Atlanta is coming off a 3-1 homestand where the veteran averaged 21.0 points per game. He put up a career-high 34 points against Washington along with 15 rebounds. The Hawks have a three-game losing streak on the road right now, but Horford could break that.
Pairing Atlanta's rise with the home struggles of the Knicks could be tough for New York. The team is 3-8 at home, but have won the last two of three games at the Garden breaking a tough streak. Currently sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, the Knicks need to start gaining some momentum on the season. They have lost three of their last four, averaging just 84.0 points per game, shooting 29.9 percent from behind the arc.
Carmelo Anthony is once again expected to lead the team. He is averaging 34.2 points per game, sitting second in the league in scoring. However, his fourth quarter struggles could haunt the team.
