Knicks and Hawks Clash in Key Late-Season Matchup

Playoff-bound teams battle for Eastern Conference positioning

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:35pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.The Knicks and Hawks battle for Eastern Conference playoff positioning in a visually fractured, cubist-inspired illustration.NYC Today

The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks will face off tonight in a crucial late-season NBA matchup with playoff implications. The Knicks, currently third in the East, have already clinched a postseason berth but are looking to improve their seeding, while the fifth-place Hawks are fighting to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a direct playoff spot.

Why it matters

This game is important for both teams as they jockey for position in the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks want to build momentum heading into the playoffs, while the Hawks are trying to lock up a guaranteed playoff spot and avoid the extra play-in games.

The details

The Knicks won the first meeting between these teams on December 27, but the Hawks evened the season series with a victory on January 2. New York has struggled against teams with winning records this season, but is coming in on a two-game winning streak. Atlanta has won four straight and is 1.5 games ahead of Toronto for the sixth seed, but faces a tough closing schedule against Cleveland and Miami.

  • The game tips off at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, April 6 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
  • This is the third and final regular-season matchup between the Knicks and Hawks.

The players

Josh Hart

A key player for the Knicks who discussed the team's focus on finishing the season strong and being sharp heading into the playoffs.

Luka Doncic

The Hawks' star player who is currently sidelined with a strained hamstring and seeking specialized treatment in Europe in hopes of a faster return.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, this is a good little stretch to end the season to make sure we're as sharp as we can be going into the playoffs. The past is the past, nothing you can do about it now. Our focus is on tomorrow being 1-0 against playoff teams, and then we move on to the next one, and then we want to be 1-0, and then we want to move onto the next one and be 1-0. Nothing in the past really matters. It's about what we do moving forward that we'll be judged on and what we judge ourselves on.”

— Josh Hart

What’s next

The Knicks and Hawks will face off again on Wednesday, April 9 in New York as they continue their late-season push for playoff positioning.

The takeaway

This matchup between two Eastern Conference playoff contenders will be an important barometer for both teams as they gear up for the postseason. The Knicks are looking to solidify their standing, while the Hawks are fighting to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a guaranteed playoff spot.