Knicks to Face Hawks in First Round of NBA Playoffs

New York and Atlanta set for postseason clash after regular season split

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:19pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The New York Knicks, the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, will take on the No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. The two teams split their regular season series, with the Knicks winning two of the three matchups. This will be the fourth playoff meeting between the Knicks and Hawks, with New York holding a 2-1 advantage in previous postseason series.

Why it matters

The Knicks are looking to end their 53-year championship drought and make a deep playoff run, while the Hawks are aiming to build on their strong finish to the regular season and pull off an upset. This first-round matchup features two talented teams with a history of playoff battles.

The details

The Knicks and Hawks split their regular season series, with New York winning the first and third meetings. In the first game, the Knicks took a close 3-point victory in Atlanta. The Hawks then responded with a 111-99 win at Madison Square Garden, leading by as many as 26 points. The final regular season matchup saw the Knicks hold on for a 3-point win, with Knicks star Jalen Brunson scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter to lead the comeback.

  • The first-round series between the Knicks and Hawks will begin on Saturday, April 18.
  • The regular season series between the two teams took place in the middle of the season, with the first game in early February and the final matchup coming in early May.

The players

Jalen Brunson

A three-time NBA All-Star, Brunson is the Knicks' leading scorer and will be a key factor in the series against the Hawks.

CJ McCollum

The veteran Hawks guard had a last-second half-court shot that didn't count in the final regular season meeting with the Knicks.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Knicks and Hawks have been two of the best teams in the East over the past few months. This is going to be a hard-fought, back-and-forth series that could come down to the final game.”

— NBA Analyst

What’s next

The Knicks and Hawks will tip off their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on Prime Video.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Knicks and Hawks features two talented teams with a history of playoff battles. The Knicks are looking to end their long championship drought, while the Hawks are aiming to pull off an upset. Fans can expect a highly competitive series that could go the distance.