Knicks and Hawks Clash in Potential Playoff Preview

Two Eastern Conference contenders meet as the regular season winds down.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:49pm

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The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, will face off in a potential first-round playoff preview on Monday night. The Knicks currently hold the third seed in the East, while the Hawks are in fifth place. Both teams have been playing well lately, with the Hawks winning 13 straight at home and the Knicks coming off a dominant win over the Chicago Bulls.

Why it matters

This matchup could be a preview of an exciting first-round playoff series between the Knicks and Hawks. The game will give both teams a chance to size up a potential postseason opponent and see how they measure up. It's also an important game in the Eastern Conference standings, as the Knicks try to hold onto the third seed and the Hawks look to solidify their position in the top half of the playoff bracket.

The details

The Knicks are led by Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 26 points and 6.7 assists per game. They're also hoping to get a boost from the return of Miles McBride, who is working his way back from injury. The Hawks, meanwhile, have been on a tear lately, winning 18 of their last 20 games. They've done it with a revamped roster that includes newcomers like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum, as well as the continued strong play of Jalen Johnson.

  • The Knicks and Hawks will face off on Monday, April 5, 2026.
  • The Knicks are finishing the regular season with four straight games against playoff-bound opponents.

The players

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' leading scorer, averaging 26 points and 6.7 assists per game.

Miles McBride

A Knicks player who is working his way back from injury and looking to contribute to the team's playoff push.

Jalen Johnson

A fifth-year forward for the Hawks who has been playing at a high level, averaging a double-double with 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

A newcomer to the Hawks who has emerged as a candidate for the NBA's Most Improved Player award, averaging a career-high 20.6 points per game.

CJ McCollum

Another new addition to the Hawks, acquired in a midseason trade, who is averaging 18.6 points per game since joining the team.

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What they’re saying

“We're not going to jump on people 38-16 every game, but hopefully we continue with the same mindset to start games. With the same sense of urgency, sense of physicality, making our opponents feel us, while trying to get out in transition and share the basketball the way we did.”

— Mike Brown, Knicks Head Coach

“The fact that our group has connected the way they have in a short period of time really speaks to those guys in the locker room. There's a foundation that we've tried to lay. They've embraced one another as much as anything.”

— Quin Snyder, Hawks Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of Monday's game will take a step closer to securing a higher seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Knicks and Hawks is an important late-season clash between two of the East's top teams. The game will provide valuable insight into how these squads stack up against each other ahead of a potential postseason meeting.