The New York Knicks enter the postseason with renewed NBA Finals aspirations. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks arrive fresh off a pivotal trade deadline and a scorching hot close to their season. These two teams are set to clash in what promises to be one of the most captivating first-round matchups. Historically, this rivalry has delivered theatrical moments, including wrestling-style villain turns and memorable midcourt dice rolls.
Jalen Brunson orchestrates New York’s fluid and effective offense, while Jalen Johnson’s Atlanta squad counters with speed and defensive intensity. Indeed, it’s now “the Jalen series!” Below is a quick guide to the Knicks versus Hawks, with TV broadcast details to be updated as they are released.
How to watch No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
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| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1: @ NY |
Sat., April 18 |
6 p.m. |
Prime Video |
Prime Video |
|
2: @ NY |
Mon., April 20 |
8 p.m. |
NBC |
Peacock |
|
3: @ ATL |
Thu., April 23 |
7 p.m. |
Prime Video |
Prime Video |
|
4: @ ATL |
Sat., April 25 |
6 p.m. |
NBC |
Peacock |
|
5*: @ NY |
Tue., April 28 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
6*: @ ATL |
Thu., April 30 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
7*: @ NY |
Sat., May 2 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
* if game is necessary
NBC is also available free over the air.
What to know about the Knicks
Following their first conference finals appearance in 25 years, the New York Knicks achieved a 53-29 record — marking their third consecutive season with 50+ wins and the franchise’s best performance since the 2012-13 campaign. Under Mike Brown, who succeeded Tom Thibodeau, the team set a new record for first-year coaching wins, surpassing Pat Riley’s previous mark.
New York concluded the season ranked fourth in offensive efficiency, seventh in defensive rating, and fifth in net rating. The agile and determined Jalen Brunson averaged 26 points per game, officially placing him 10th in the league. OG Anunoby earned a first-team All-Perimeter-Defense selection from The Athletic’s Fred Katz, lauded for his ability to anticipate plays, disrupt passing lanes, and defend effectively against larger opponents.
Mikal Bridges extended his streak, playing in every game for the fifth season in a row. Josh Hart consistently contributed with three-pointers, critical rebounds, and secondary playmaking. Karl-Anthony Towns saw a slight reduction in his statistics but still maintained an average of over 20 points per game for the tenth consecutive season.
Leon Rose’s front office enhanced the roster at the trade deadline by adding hometown sparkplug Jose Alvarado. The New York bench also benefits from the presence of Mitchell Robinson, a formidable 7-foot presence on the glass. Robinson proved to be a game-changer last spring, averaging nearly four offensive rebounds per playoff contest.
In December, these Knicks notably triumphed over the formidable San Antonio Spurs to clinch the third annual NBA Cup. The team’s rafters appear to be ready for a championship banner.
What to know about the Hawks
This season saw Atlanta operate as two distinct Hawks teams. Initially, the team languished with an 18-21 record before trading long-time franchise cornerstone Trae Young. That move brought in CJ McCollum, while a subsequent deadline deal saw Jonathan Kuminga acquired in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis.
General Manager Onsi Saleh orchestrated an ambitious few weeks, and the immediate results have been remarkable. Post-All-Star break, Atlanta compiled an impressive 20-6 record, finishing second in defensive rating, fourth in net rating, and third in plus-minus.
Jalen Johnson delivered stellar averages of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. According to Cleaning the Glass, the first-time All-Star ranked in the 98th percentile for assist-to-usage ratio. The Hawks also saw another breakout performance from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who joined the team via an offseason sign-and-trade. After averaging 8.4 points per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the versatile Alexander-Walker surged to 20.8 points in his initial games for Atlanta.
Concurrently, McCollum continued his consistent perimeter scoring, and Kuminga contributed several highlight-reel dunks in his new home.
The revitalized defense is firmly anchored by the defensive prowess of “swipe artist” Dyson Daniels and imposing big man Onyeka Okongwu. Coach Quin Snyder implemented impressive midseason tactical adjustments. He now faces the challenge of creatively managing his frontcourt rotation, as backup Jock Landale is sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Head-to-head matchups this season
The Knicks claimed two of the three regular-season encounters, with both victories decided by a three-point margin. They established an early lead in Atlanta on December 27th, managing to hold on despite losing the third and fourth quarters. New York also narrowly survived in Atlanta on April 6th — McCollum’s potential game-tying heave from beyond half court was reviewed and ultimately ruled just late.
Atlanta secured a 111-99 victory in the sole Madison Square Garden matchup on January 2nd, a game in which Karl-Anthony Towns was unavailable.
In the other two Hawks games, Towns averaged 28.5 points on impressive 63/50/94.7 percent shooting splits. Brunson participated in all three contests, scoring 29.3 points per game, but struggled from beyond the arc, converting just 8-for-27 (29.6 percent) of his three-point attempts. Johnson was just a few assists shy of a triple-double average against New York, though he did commit a combined nine turnovers in their last two meetings.
Knicks vs. Hawks playoff history
New York holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time playoff series. Walt Frazier was in peak form, averaging 25.6 points per game, when his team won the 1971 Eastern Conference semifinals. Later, the eighth-seeded Knicks, embodying a “team of destiny” in the 1999 playoffs, achieved a second-round sweep of the favored Hawks. That series was famously highlighted by Marcus Camby’s emphatic dunk over Dikembe Mutombo.
Then came the opening round of 2021… a series in which Trae Young became the primary antagonist for all five boroughs and the wider tristate area. His decisive Game 1 silencer quickly entered instant NBA legend. Atlanta ultimately seized that series 4-1, then surged on to a surprising conference finals appearance.
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