Knicks vs. Hawks: Who Takes the 2026 First Round Advantage in Game One?
On Saturday, April 18th, the New York Knicks will host the Atlanta Hawks in Game One of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The 53-29 Knicks are finishing the regular season two games better than they did during the 24-25 season, third in the Eastern Conference, looking to fulfill their dreams of becoming NBA Champions once again. For Atlanta, they’ve improved six games, and that’s even coming after they traded their former all-star point guard, Trae Young, to the Wizards back in January, finishing with the sixth seed in the East. While New York is chasing a long-shot of a goal, the Hawks are willing to do anything they can to upset the Knicks and show the rest of the league why they are a threat for years to come. During Game One of this first-round matchup, both franchises will try to establish an advantage to keep moving forward throughout the series, whether it’s the Knicks who make the say-so at home, or the Hawks who will force themselves into the conversation being on the road, both teams are looking to gain the upper hand.
The Knicks have the season series advantage, winning two out of three games against Atlanta. Their most recent win came on April 6th when New York won 108-105. While the Knicks have won two out of three games, the Hawks have averaged 113.7 points per game against New York, compared to the Knicks, who averaged 111.7 in their three meetings. Both times the Knicks won, they pulled it off in a one-possession game. Even with Atlanta’s roster being a blend of young talent and great veterans, New York must find a way to win, especially at home in a playoff atmosphere.
For New York, Jalen Brunson must stay healthy and consistent for the team, while center Karl-Anthony Towns needs to be the two-way threat he is on both the offensive and defensive presence. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges must be the great two-way players they are and help out on either end of the ball. Finally, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado must do their job and be the stable players keeping New York in the ball game. While the Knicks may be the more experienced team, they cannot underestimate the Hawks’ play.
During that April 6th loss, Nickeil Alexander-Walker dropped 36 points. Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Jonathan Kuminga are all young talents the Knicks need to look out for. Even veterans such as Buddy Hield or CJ McCollum need a close eye on them as they can both get hot in an instant. Yet, with leading the Hawks in points, rebounds, and assists, Johnson should be the Knicks’ top priority on the defensive end. Stopping the Hawks’ potential franchise cornerstone would be a huge boost of confidence for New York.
The most vital matchups during this series will be Anunoby or Bridges against Johnson, in addition to Brunson against McCollum. Also, rebounding will play a huge part in this first-round matchup. During the regular season, the team that led in rebounds won the game, so Towns and Robinson must put in the work on the glass to give the Knicks even a remote chance of winning. New York must also decide if the three-pointer isn’t falling for a quarter or half the game, they must use other tactics to win the game. Solely relying on the three-ball will not give the Knicks the results they’re looking for.
So who claims the advantage after Game One? I believe the Knicks do, but these matchups with the Hawks during the first round will be close, competitive, and very well could be one-possession games throughout the entire series. New York has the experience, the will, and the mindset to push through, especially over the past few seasons in the playoffs. Brunson and company must look like the best versions of themselves we’ve seen throughout the playoffs if the Knicks want to achieve the goal of winning an NBA Championship.
