Knicks Vs. Hawks: 5 Things To Watch In First Round Of 2026 Nba Playoffs

The playoffs are what the Knicks have been waiting for. In a season where the Knicks won their most regular season games in 13 years, much of it will be forgotten if the club flames out in the postseason.

The first test is the Atlanta Hawks, who are the antithesis of the Knicks in style of play. The Hawks are a mostly young team, they like to play fast, and they have a very small roster.

Here’s five key factors to watch for in New York’s opening round matchup.

Karl-Anthony Towns domination

The kryptonite to New York’s offense over the past two seasons has been opponents defending Karl-Anthony Towns with a wing player. When the Knicks All-Star center is guarded by a traditional five, he usually feasts.

The Hawks have defended Towns this season primarily with center Onyeka Okongwu, and Towns has been comfortable against the 240-pound center. In two games against the Hawks, he has averaged 28.5 points on 63 percent from the field and 13.5 rebounds.

Would the Hawks put star forward Jalen Johnson or one of their wings on Towns so Okongwu can play center field and muck up the paint?

Either way, Towns should have a matchup advantage and his ability to score either on the perimeter or in the paint should prove to be a regular theme in this series.

Swing shooter

In New York’s 108-105 win against the Hawks last week, the Knicks hid Towns on guard Dyson Daniels for much of the night. Daniels had a rough season from deep. After making 34 percent of his threes last season, the former Most Improved Player of the Year shot just 18.8 percent from deep on 117 attempts.

That creates a dilemma for the Hawks. The club needs Daniels on the floor. He has the toughest defensive assignment, guarding Knicks star Jalen Brunson. But his inept shooting could throw a wrench in Atlanta’s offensive gameplan.

Daniels ended the season shooting the ball better, going 10-for-24 (41.7 percent) from three over his last 10 games. How he starts the series from long distance could swing the series in either team’s favor.

Guarding the three-ball

All season long, New York’s three-point defense has been a talking point. The Knicks gave up the fifth most three-point attempts to opponents per 100 possessions. They were also 20th in opponent three-point percentage.

New York’s three-point defense will face its first test against the Hawks. Atlanta was fifth in three-point shooting percentage (37.1 percent) in the NBA this season.

Though Daniels has been a suspect shooter, Atlanta has several dangerous perimeter options on the roster. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was fourth in the NBA with 251 three-pointers made. Okongwu connected on 37.6 percent of his 383 three-point attempts. Veteran C.J. McCollum (35.7 percent) is capable as well. Corey Kispert and Buddy Hield also offer three-point shooting from the fringes of Atlanta’s rotation.

Slowing down Jalen Johnson

A central reason for Atlanta’s hot finish to the season was the emergence of Johnson. The 24-year old All-Star was a stat-stuffer as he led the club in scoring (22.5 points), rebounding (10.3) and assists (7.9).

Johnson thrives in the open court. When Atlanta gets in transition, Johnson can run the floor, or set up his teammates with open looks. He will also likely hunt some of New York’s smaller guards like Brunson, Miles McBride, and Landry Shamet in inverted pick-and-roll situations.

Josh Hart guarded Johnson for much of last week’s win against the Hawks. But expect New York’s other wings Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to guard Johnson. Not an elite shooter (35.2 percent on 341 three-point attempts), the Knicks can slow down the forward by keeping the game in the half court and preventing easy drives.

Controlling the glass and tempo

One of New York’s advantages against almost every opponent is Mitchell Robinson. New York’s reserve 7-footer is arguably the best offensive rebounder in the NBA, and he has a significant physical advantage in this series.

The Hawks are a small team. Okongwu is 6-10 but just 240 lbs. Johnson is listed at 210 lbs. Off the bench, the Hawks have lithe 6-11 forward Mouhamed Gueye and 6-11 center Jock Landale who can mix it up in the paint, but his status for the series will be up in the air after he suffered a high ankle sprain earlier in April.

That leaves a major opportunity for Robinson to dominate in the paint either against smaller players or limited reserves like recent Hawks free agent signing Tony Bradley. As mentioned before, the Hawks were fifth in pace. But if they can’t secure rebounds, it will be hard to push the ball, which will benefit the Knicks.