Hawks' Keaton Wallace Demoted to Bench for Game 1

Second-year pro will have limited minutes in playoff opener against Knicks.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in mid-motion, with their body broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a range of blues, greens, and oranges.A cubist interpretation of a Hawks player's playoff debut captures the fragmented energy of the high-stakes postseason.Today in Miami

Keaton Wallace, a second-year player for the Atlanta Hawks, has been moved back to the bench for Game 1 of the team's first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. Wallace had started the Hawks' regular-season finale against the Miami Heat, playing 32 minutes, but he will now return to a reserve role as rotations tighten for the postseason.

Why it matters

Wallace's demotion to the bench suggests the Hawks are going with their more experienced and proven players to start the playoffs, as teams often shorten their rotations in the postseason. This could limit Wallace's playing time and impact in the opening game against the Knicks.

The details

Wallace, who has mostly come off the bench this season, started the Hawks' final regular-season game against the Heat, scoring 8 points with 6 assists and 4 rebounds in 32 minutes. However, he will now return to a reserve role for the playoff opener, as head coach Nate McMillan looks to optimize his rotation for the high-stakes postseason matchup against the Knicks.

  • The Hawks will face the Knicks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday, April 18, 2026.
  • Wallace started the Hawks' regular-season finale against the Heat this past Sunday.

The players

Keaton Wallace

A second-year player for the Atlanta Hawks who has mostly come off the bench this season but started the team's final regular-season game.

Nate McMillan

The head coach of the Atlanta Hawks who is tightening the team's rotation for the playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“Wallace will be available off the bench for Saturday's contest, though minutes may be hard to come by for the second-year pro, given how rotations tend to tighten for the postseason.”

— RotoWire Staff

What’s next

The Hawks and Knicks will tip off Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday, April 18, 2026.

The takeaway

Keaton Wallace's demotion to a bench role for the Hawks' playoff opener against the Knicks suggests the team is prioritizing its more experienced players as rotations tighten in the postseason. This could limit Wallace's playing time and impact in the crucial first game of the series.