Knicks unfazed by surprising playoff matchup against Hawks

Knicks players say they 'didn't pay any attention' to Hawks resting starters to drop to 6th seed

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:28am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the dynamic energy of the upcoming playoff series.The Knicks and Hawks' first-round playoff matchup promises an intense, unpredictable clash of styles and strategies.NYC Today

The New York Knicks will face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA playoffs, despite the Hawks seemingly trying to avoid that matchup by resting their starters in their final regular season game. Knicks players Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride said they were not bothered by the Hawks' strategy and are focused on their own preparation for the postseason.

Why it matters

The Knicks-Hawks first-round playoff matchup is a surprise, as the Hawks had the opportunity to secure the 5th seed and a more favorable matchup against the Cavaliers. However, the Hawks chose to rest their starters, dropping them to the 6th seed and a date with the Knicks. This decision by the Hawks suggests they are not overly concerned about facing the Knicks in the playoffs.

The details

In their final regular season game, the Hawks lost 143-117 to the Heat, despite resting most of their starters. This, combined with results elsewhere, dropped the Hawks to the 6th seed and a first-round matchup with the Knicks. Hawks coach Quin Snyder said the team's priority was getting healthy for the playoffs, rather than trying to avoid a specific opponent. For their part, the Knicks players like Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride said they didn't pay attention to the Hawks' strategy and are just focused on their own preparation.

  • The Hawks lost 143-117 to the Heat on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
  • The Knicks lost 110-96 to the Hornets on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Quin Snyder

Head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

Jordan Clarkson

Guard for the New York Knicks.

Miles McBride

Guard for the New York Knicks.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, I think we're excited to be in this situation. Whoever we play is gonna be really good. It's hard to even try to figure that out. It's possible that certain teams wanna play us. The primary thing is for us to be healthy going into the postseason. That's been the one thing that has been consistent the last few weeks and months — you don't know what's gonna happen. It's hard to predict all these games, they're all going on. Wherever it falls is where it falls, and we'll prepare for the playoffs, regardless of who that is.”

— Quin Snyder, Head coach, Atlanta Hawks

“We didn't pay any attention to that. It's just what they wanted to do.”

— Jordan Clarkson, Guard, New York Knicks

“Honestly, we just gotta focus on what we gotta do. I think whoever could've been the matchup, we're focused on what we have to do as a team.”

— Miles McBride, Guard, New York Knicks

What’s next

The Knicks and Hawks will meet in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. The specific schedule and game dates have not yet been announced.

The takeaway

The Knicks appear unfazed by the surprise first-round matchup against the Hawks, focusing instead on their own preparation for the playoffs. The Hawks' decision to rest their starters and drop to the 6th seed suggests they are not overly concerned about facing the Knicks, setting up an intriguing first-round series.