Knicks Seek to Advance Past Hawks in First-Round Playoff Matchup

New York looks to take the next step after reaching Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:03am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract basketball game, with overlapping planes of blue, orange, and green representing the action on the court.The Knicks and Hawks clash in a first-round playoff series, with both teams looking to advance and take the next step in their postseason aspirations.NYC Today

The New York Knicks, led by star point guard Jalen Brunson, face off against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Knicks finished the regular season with a 53-29 record, good for the third seed in the East, while the Hawks earned the sixth seed with a 46-36 record. The two teams met five times during the regular season, with the Knicks winning two close games.

Why it matters

The Knicks are looking to build on last season's run to the Eastern Conference Finals and fulfill owner James Dolan's expectation of a Finals appearance. However, the Hawks have proven to be a tough matchup, with their recent strong finish to the regular season.

The details

The Knicks made some key defensive adjustments during the season and will rely heavily on Brunson's scoring and playmaking to lead their offense. The Hawks, meanwhile, made a midseason trade of point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, which seemed to provide a spark for the team.

  • The first-round series begins on April 18, 2026 at Madison Square Garden.
  • The Knicks and Hawks met five times during the 2025-26 regular season.

The players

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' star point guard, who averaged 26.0 points, 7.1 three-point attempts, and 46.7% shooting during the regular season.

AJ Griffin

The Hawks' second-year forward, who had a breakout season averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against the Hawks. They've proven to be a formidable opponent, and we'll need Jalen to be at his best if we want to advance.”

— Mike Brown, Head Coach, New York Knicks

What’s next

The winner of this series will face the winner of the Bucks-Raptors series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Knicks and Hawks promises to be a hard-fought, closely contested series as both teams look to take the next step in their playoff aspirations.