Knicks Face Final Stretch to Prove Playoff Readiness

New York looks to end regular season strong against top competition before postseason

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New York Knicks are facing a crucial final four-game stretch against teams with winning records to close out the regular season. After going 0-5 against such opponents over the past month, the Knicks are looking to prove they can compete with the NBA's top teams and build momentum heading into the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Knicks' recent struggles against quality opponents have raised concerns about their ability to perform in the postseason, after similar issues last year. This final stretch represents a final chance to quiet those worries and demonstrate they are ready to make a deep playoff run.

The details

The Knicks' last win against a team above .500 came on March 6 against the Nuggets. Since then, they have lost five straight games on the road against the Lakers, Clippers, Hornets, Thunder and Rockets. This final four-game stretch features home games against the Celtics, Raptors and Hornets, as well as a road matchup with the Hawks.

  • The Knicks' last win against a team above .500 was on March 6.
  • The Knicks have gone 0-5 against teams with winning records over the past month.
  • The Knicks' final four-game stretch of the regular season begins on Monday.

The players

Josh Hart

A Knicks player who emphasized the team's need to be locked in and focused during this final stretch.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' starting point guard, who has been a focal point of the team's offense in recent losses against top opponents.

Mike Brown

The Knicks' head coach, who acknowledged the team's recent poor performances against quality teams and expressed a desire to keep some looks hidden for the playoffs.

Landry Shamet

A Knicks player who discussed the unique challenge of this final stretch, where the team is trying to gear up for the playoffs while still taking each game seriously.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For us, I think it's just making sure we're locked in and focused. 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

“You gotta give Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Houston credit, they played well. I said it postgame, we did not play well in some areas. … We didn't play well in those three games and we deserved to lose, as much as you hate to say it. And hopefully we'll play better going forward because we've got a couple of teams above .500, so we'll see.”

— Mike Brown, Knicks Head Coach

“It's a challenging stretch that not a lot of people talk about. This last stretch of the season, these last few games, you're kind of gearing up for the playoffs, you know what you're building for, but you gotta be here and locked in each night, each team, each challenge in front of you. I think it's more about approaching each game with the right mentality. Make it more about us than who we're playing. We're working on something bigger and building for something bigger, keeping that top of mind while still taking each game seriously and approaching them as you should.”

— Landry Shamet, Knicks Player

What’s next

The Knicks will face the Hawks, Celtics, Raptors, and Hornets in their final four games of the regular season, all of which are against teams with winning records and playoff aspirations. These games will be crucial for the Knicks to build momentum and prove their readiness for the postseason.

The takeaway

The Knicks' struggles against top competition in the regular season are a concerning trend that they must address before the playoffs begin. This final stretch represents a final chance for the team to quiet those worries and demonstrate they are ready to make a deep playoff run, after similar issues last year.