This is an 8* on UNDER

Two teams, each playing without a significant chunk of their roster, aren’t about to go Over the total in an early Christmas start. The main attraction for this game was supposed to be Trae Young’s return to the Garden as he was “public enemy #1” of Knicks’ fans during the playoffs last season. But Young isn’t playing on Christmas. There will be several other Hawks’ players unable to suit up - due to the league’s health and safety protocols - as well. But the key is Young. Over the last two years, in the 11 games that Young has missed, Atlanta only averages 103.5 points/game. His 27,3 point and 9.3 assist per game averages are irreplaceable. For New York, some players are set to return from protocol, but when they played the Hawks last month it ended up being a 99-90 game. Going back to the playoff series last May, the most total points scored in any of the last six Hawks-Knicks games is 212. Of the 11 players that suited up against NY last month for Atlanta, only two are certain to play on Christmas Day. The Knicks got 44 points from Kemba Walker the other night, a number he will almost certainly not match here. Play on UNDER

AAA