Knicks Defeat Hawks in Game 1 Behind Strong Second Half Defense

Atlanta's bench struggles as New York pulls away for convincing series-opening win.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 6:08am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of bright colors representing the intense action and competition on the court.The Knicks' stifling defense in the second half proved too much for the Hawks to overcome in Game 1 of their playoff series.Atlanta Today

In the highly anticipated Game 1 of their playoff series, the New York Knicks used a strong second-half defensive effort to pull away from the Atlanta Hawks and grab a 1-0 series lead. The game was tied at 58 early in the third quarter, but the Knicks clamped down on defense and hit some timely shots to outscore the Hawks 27-20 in the period and take a 9-point lead into the fourth quarter, which they would not relinquish.

Why it matters

This series is seen as a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, so the outcome of Game 1 sets an important tone. The Hawks' bench production, or lack thereof, was a red flag coming into the series and was exposed in the loss, raising questions about their ability to match the Knicks' depth.

The details

Atlanta's backup center Mo Gueye held his own against Knicks star Mitchell Robinson, but the Hawks' offense fell apart in the third quarter, shooting just 35% from the field and 2-for-9 from three-point range with 5 turnovers. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, but was unable to take full advantage of mismatches early on as the Knicks focused on making him more of a scorer than a distributor.

  • The game was tied at 58 in the early minutes of the third quarter.
  • The Knicks outscored the Hawks 27-20 in the third quarter to take a 9-point lead.

The players

Mo Gueye

The Hawks' backup center who held his own against Knicks star Mitchell Robinson.

Jalen Johnson

The Hawks' star player who scored 23 points but was unable to fully capitalize on mismatches as the Knicks focused on making him more of a scorer than a distributor.

Mitchell Robinson

The Knicks' starting center who was a key part of their strong defensive effort.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Atlanta's bench is going to be under the spotlight, especially on nights like this this. Can they find a way to get more production from their second units?”

— Jackson Caudell, Author

What’s next

The series will continue with Game 2 in New York on Sunday, April 21st.

The takeaway

The Knicks' defensive intensity in the second half was the difference-maker in Game 1, exposing weaknesses in the Hawks' bench production that could become a major factor if Atlanta can't find ways to get more support for its starters in this series.