Knicks Open Playoffs Against Surging Hawks in Game 1

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns lead the Knicks against Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker's Hawks

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:50am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, geometric shapes and colors representing a basketball game between the Knicks and Hawks, conveying the dynamic action and competitive spirit of the playoff matchup.The Knicks and Hawks clash in a cubist-inspired illustration that captures the intensity and energy of their first-round playoff series.NYC Today

The New York Knicks, led by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, will host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. The Hawks, who finished sixth in the East with a 46-36 record, have surged in the second half of the season behind Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Knicks, third in the East at 53-29, will look to control the tempo and take advantage of mismatches to win the series.

Why it matters

This first-round matchup features two of the East's top teams, with the Knicks looking to make a deep playoff run in head coach Mike Brown's first season, while the Hawks aim to build on their strong second-half surge and advance past the opening round.

The details

The Knicks and Hawks split their regular-season series 2-1, with the Knicks winning the most recent meeting 108-105 on April 6. In that game, Brunson (30 points, 13 assists) and Towns (21 points, 12 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles to snap the Hawks' 13-game home winning streak. The Hawks no longer have star guard Trae Young, who was traded to Washington in January, but have found success with a balanced attack led by Johnson and Alexander-Walker.

  • The best-of-seven series starts on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Game 1 will be played at New York on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
  • Game 2 will be on Monday, April 21 at New York at 8 p.m. ET.
  • Game 3 will be on Thursday, April 24 at Atlanta at 7 p.m. ET.
  • Game 4 will be on Saturday, April 26 at Atlanta at 6 p.m. ET.

The players

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' All-Star point guard who leads the team's offense, averaging 20.3 points and 2.2 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Karl-Anthony Towns

The Knicks' All-Star center who provides scoring, rebounding, and floor spacing, averaging a double-double this season.

Jalen Johnson

The Hawks' leading scorer, averaging 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

The Hawks' sharpshooting guard who has made 3.5 three-pointers per game over the last 10 contests.

Mike Brown

The Knicks' head coach in his first playoff run with the team, having shifted the identity to a deeper rotation and faster-paced offense.

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What’s next

The winner of this series will advance to face the winner of the Bucks-Raptors series in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup features two of the Eastern Conference's top teams, with the Knicks looking to make a deep playoff run under new head coach Mike Brown, while the Hawks aim to build on their strong second-half surge and advance past the opening round.