The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night to kick off one of the most intriguing first-round matchups in the 2026 Eastern Conference Playoffs. This #3 vs. #6 seed battle features a New York squad eyeing a deep championship run against an Atlanta team that has been among the league’s most dangerous since the All-Star break.
New York enters the postseason as the #3 seed (51–31) after a dominant regular season where they ranked 5th in defensive rating. They are led by All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson (26.0 PPG) and the interior force of Karl-Anthony Towns (11.9 RPG). With OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges providing elite wing defense, New York aims to set the tone for the series in front of its home crowd.
The Hawks arrive as the #6 seed (46–36). They avoided the Play-In tournament by securing a top-six spot for the first time in the Quin Snyder era. Atlanta has undergone a massive change this season, moving on from Trae Young. They built around Jalen Johnson, who averaged a historic 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is emerging as a Most Improved Player finalist.
Hawks vs. Knicks: Live Streaming And Game Info
- Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 (Sunday, April 19 IST)
- Time: 6:00 PM ET (3:30 AM IST)
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- National Broadcast: NBA TV
- TV Broadcast (Local): MSG Network (Knicks), Bally Sports Southeast (Hawks)
- Live Streaming: NBA League Pass, Fubo (Free Trial available)
Where to watch Hawks vs. Knicks in India For Free?
Indian Fans can watch Hawks vs. Knicks on NBA League Pass, Amazon Prime (an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial), or catch it for free here.
Where To Watch Hawks vs. Knicks Across The Globe?
United States
- Date/Time: April 18, 2026, 6:00 PM ET
- Channel: NBA TV, MSG, FDSSE, NBA League Pass
Canada
- Date/Time: April 18, 2026, 6:00 PM ET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TSN or Sportsnet
United Kingdom
- Date/Time: April 18, 2026, 11:00 PM GMT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TNT Sports
Australia
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 8:00 AM AEST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN
Germany
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 12:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, DAZN
France
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 12:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, beIN Sports
Spain
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 12:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Movistar+
Italy
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 12:00 AM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Sky Italia
India
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 3:30 AM IST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Amazon Prime Video
Brazil
- Date/Time: April 18, 2026, 7:00 PM BRT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN, Prime Video
Mexico
- Date/Time: April 18, 2026, 4:00 PM CST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN, Star+
Japan
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 7:00 AM JST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Rakuten TV
Philippines
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 6:00 AM PHT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TV5, NBA TV Philippines
Singapore
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 6:00 AM SGT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, StarHub, or Singtel
Projected Starting Lineups For Hawks vs. Knicks
Atlanta Hawks
- PG: CJ McCollum
- SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- SF: Zaccharie Risacher
- PF: Jalen Johnson
- C: Onyeka Okongwu
New York Knicks
- PG: Jalen Brunson
- SG: Mikal Bridges
- SF: OG Anunoby
- PF: Karl-Anthony Towns
- C: Mitchell Robinson
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks
- Jock Landale (C): OUT (Right high ankle sprain; expected to miss the first round)
- RayJ Dennis (G): AVAILABLE (Cleared for rotation)
- Keshon Gilbert (G): AVAILABLE (Cleared for rotation)
- Mouhamed Gueye (PF): AVAILABLE (No injury designation)
New York Knicks
- Landry Shamet (SG): QUESTIONABLE (Right knee soreness)
- Josh Hart (SF): PROBABLE (Minor ankle management)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (C): AVAILABLE (No injury designation)
- Miles McBride (PG): AVAILABLE (Cleared after pelvic management)
Hawks vs. Knicks Head to Head
The New York Knicks won the 2025–26 regular-season series 2–1. The Knicks secured narrow victories in December (128–125) and April (108–105), while the Hawks claimed their lone win in a 111–99 blowout at the Garden in January. Historically, the Hawks lead the all-time regular-season series 204–195. However, the Knicks lead the all-time playoff series 9-5.
Prediction For Hawks vs. Knicks
The Garden will be at its loudest, and while the Hawks are playing with immense confidence, the Knicks’ playoff experience and defensive length give them the edge in a series opener. Karl-Anthony Towns is a significant matchup problem for a Hawks frontcourt missing Jock Landale. Jalen Brunson’s ability to control the pace should be able to handle Atlanta’s transition game. Expect a physical, high-intensity battle, with the Knicks pulling away in the fourth quarter.
Score Prediction: Knicks 114 – Hawks 106
