Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks (45-33) host the Knicks (50*-28) at State Farm Arena. New York sits third in the Eastern Conference, having won two straight to improve to 7-3 in their last 10. The Knicks need to stay sharp in their last road game of the season, especially with the Cleveland Cavaliers on their heels. Atlanta, meanwhile, might be the league’s hottest team, riding a four-game win streak and sitting fifth in the East.
The season series is split 1-1. The teams last met on January 2 in New York,
where the Hawks pulled off a 111-99 victory. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both scored 23 points for the winners. On the home team’s side, Jalen Brunson racked up 24 points while Ariel Hukporti snared 16 boards.
Things are looking up in Atlanta now that they’ve parted ways with Trae. The Birds have won 18 of their last 20 games and are playing with confidence down the stretch. They score 118.6 points per game while allowing 115.9, mixing a mid-tier offense (14th in the league with a ninth-ranked defense. Quin Snyder’s boys play fast (fifth for pace) and move the ball, dishing a league-best 30.3 dimes per game. From the perimeter they shoot 37%, and they rate sixth for points per game, partially because their defense is sound (9.5 steals per game).
Jalen Johnson leads the team in scoring with 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while Alexander-Walker has flourished in Georgia, averaging 20.6 points per game, taking eight three-pointers a game, and making 39% of them. At center, Onyeka Okongwu has averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 71 games this season. Dyson Daniels, The Great Barrier Thief , puts up 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and two steals per game, and veteran CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points while shooting 37% from beyond the arc.
As of this writing, the only name on the injury report for either team is Jock Landale of the Hawks, out with an ankle issue.
Prediction
ESPN.com seems to think the Knicks will win, giving them a 57% edge. Color us a little less certain. The Knicks took the first meeting of the season, but it was a close 128-125, with the Hawks winning the second half by ten. New York needed a combined 70 points from KAT and Cap to squeeze the Peaches. In their second matchup, the orange and blue managed just 17 points in the second quarter and couldn’t break 52 points in a frustrating second half.
Since those two contests, the Hawks have found consistency and Snyder has this team humming as they fly toward the playoffs. Although the ’Bockers are blessed with more talent, they don’t always blend their assets in a victorious manner. Atlanta, however, has a weird alchemy and momentum that reminds me a little of the 2020-21 Knicks. Fitting, then, that those Knicks lost in the first round to the Hawks; and for as good as the current team out of Georgia is, I’m not convinced they’re ready to break past the first round. But all that starts in about two weeks. For tonight, look for the Knicks to fight hard for three quarters, then falter down the stretch, losing by three.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (50*-28) at Atlanta Hawks (45-33)
Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup is too sexy for Milan, New York and Japan.
