Knicks' Mike Brown Firm on Resting Starters for Playoffs

Head coach says he'll play key players as Knicks fight for playoff positioning.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:33pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game broken down into overlapping planes of navy blue, forest green, and burnt orange, creating a fractured, multi-perspective visual representation of the action on the court.The Knicks' playoff positioning battle is captured in a cubist, fragmented visual style.NYC Today

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown has taken a firm stance on resting his players in the final games of the regular season, saying he plans to play his key starters as the team looks to secure a higher playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. With just a few games left before the postseason, the Knicks are still jockeying for position and Brown believes it's important to keep his top players on the court.

Why it matters

The Knicks have already clinched a playoff berth, but their final seeding is still up for grabs as they battle the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in the standings. Brown's decision to play his starters could help the team gain ground and potentially earn a more favorable first-round matchup.

The details

The Knicks have three games left on their schedule after Monday's contest against the Atlanta Hawks. They will face the Celtics, Raptors and Hornets to close out the regular season, all at home. Despite the opportunity to rest players, Brown said he plans to keep playing his key starters as long as the Knicks have a chance to move up or down in the standings.

  • The Knicks have already clinched a playoff spot.
  • After Monday's game against the Hawks, the Knicks will have 3 games left in the regular season.
  • The Knicks are currently in the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference, but are being chased by the Cavaliers.

The players

Mike Brown

The head coach of the New York Knicks, who has won the NBA Coach of the Year award twice in his career.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to play our guys. As long we have a chance to move up or down, I'm going to play our guys.”

— Mike Brown, Head Coach, New York Knicks

What’s next

The Knicks will play their final three regular season games at home against the Celtics, Raptors and Hornets as they look to secure a higher playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

Mike Brown's decision to play his starters down the stretch shows the Knicks' commitment to finishing the regular season strong and positioning themselves for a deep playoff run. Even with a postseason berth already locked up, the team is focused on improving its seeding and matchups in the Eastern Conference.