The Knicks head back to State Farm Arena for Game Four against the Hawks, down 2-1 in their first-round playoff series. New York must find a way to stop the bleeding after dropping two straight one-point losses, including Thursday’s 109-108 bummer in Game Three. The Knicks can still win the series, but you’re forgiven for any loss of confidence as they continue to let go of the rope and then hang themselves with it.
In Game Three, the Hawks edged out the Knicks 109-108 on a late fadeaway jumper from
CJ McCollum with 12.5 seconds left. McCollum finished with 23 points, while Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 24-point, 10-rebound double-double. For the Knicks, OG Anunoby poured in 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had a 21-17 double-double, but Jalen Brunson can’t find his cape in the series, and Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges combined for two points on 1-of-11 shooting in Game Three. Josh can be forgiven due to the rebounding and various intangibles he delivers, but Bridges looked every bit of his -26 plus-minus, committing four turnovers and taking three shots before getting benched during the second half.
Usually the team that owns the glass with a +14 rebounding edge in the series and leads for a majority of game time would be in the driver’s seat. Yet defensive lapses, curious late-game execution, and missed opportunities at the free-throw line have been self-inflicted gashes. Poor preparation and execution? Sounds like a coaching failure. Mike Brown’s rotations and timeout management have indeed drawn criticism, particularly his failure to keep All-Star players on the floor consistently in crunch time. Integrating Towns more effectively early and attacking Atlanta’s frontcourt weaknesses remains an obvious adjustment; and with more gravity drawn to Towns, Brunson might find a little more spacing in which to conjure his dark arts.
Greater contribution from their bench would be nice, too. Jordan Clarkson has been adequate in his limited role, but Landry Shamet has recorded three points in the series. So much for a flamethrower off the bench. Mitchell Robinson should be the X-Factor against these smaller Birds, but has played only 44 minutes and grabbed 15 rebounds. Dude should be playing 25-30 minutes and getting double-digit boards per game. And how about letting Mohamed Diawara play a possession or two, when a tad extra height would give New York an edge around the paint? A smart coach should be able to find 3 minutes for the long rookie in a playoff game, even if just to protect Towns from foul trouble at the end of the third-quarter or something.
The keys to victory for New York are unchanged: control the tempo, crash the boards, limit turnovers, and stay locked in on Atlanta’s perimeter threats (McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker). The Knicks must also clean up their late-game decision-making and free-throw shooting. Getting Towns involved early and keeping him or Brunson (or both) on the floor at all times in the fourth quarter is essential. The postseason is no time for grab-bag experimentation—unless that means starting Miles McBride over Bridges. That’s a change that much of the fanbase would support at this juncture.
On the injury front, the Knicks are reportedly healthy. OG Anunoby playing through a minor ankle issue. The Hawks remain without Jock Landale; Onyeka Okongwu is managing knee inflammation but has been available.
ESPN gives the Knicks roughly a 54% win probability on the road. Good deal. This series can still belong to New York if they tighten up the small details and stop letting Atlanta off the hook late. Expect another tight, grind-it-out battle in Atlanta. When the Knicks play their best basketball–disciplined, physical, and relentless on the glass–they’ve shown they’re the better team. Prediction: Knicks by four.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (1-2) vs Atlanta Hawks (2-1)
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
TV: Peacock / NBC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
