NBA playoffs best matchups
Breaking down the best first-round NBA playoff matchups.
The No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks and No. 3 seed New York Knicks play Saturday, April 18, in Game 1 of their first-round 2026 NBA playoffs series.
The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. MST (6 p.m. Eastern time) and can be seen on Prime (stream with Prime Video).
Who will win the NBA playoff game?
Check out these NBA playoffs picks and predictions for the Eastern Conference matchup.
The Knicks are a 5.5-point favorite over the Hawks in NBA playoffs odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. New York is -220 on the moneyline. Atlanta is +180. The over/under for the game is set at 216.5 points.
NBA playoffs series picks, predictions: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | Pistons vs Magic | Thunder vs Suns | The Republic’s predictions | NBA playoff bracket
Watch Knicks vs Hawks game on Prime
Jeremy Cluff writes: “The Hawks are more than capable of jumping out to a series lead on the Knicks. They’ll start the series off on the right note with an upset win over New York at Madison Square Garden.”
NBA playoffs Game 1 predictions, picks: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | Pistons vs Magic | Thunder vs Suns | The Republic’s score projections
The site picks the Knicks to win, but is taking the Hawks with the points. It predicts that the point total will go over.
NBA playoffs odds: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | Pistons vs Magic | Thunder vs Suns | NBA championship odds | Game odds
ESPN: Knicks have a 69.7% chance to beat Hawks in Game 1
The site gives Atlanta a 30.3% shot at defeating New York in the first game of the NBA playoffs series.
Dimers: Knicks 111, Hawks 105
It writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives the Hawks a win probability of 30%, while the Knicks have a win probability of 70%.”
NBA playoffs series schedules, TV channels: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | Pistons vs Magic | Thunder vs Suns | Daily schedule | First-round matchups
Doc’s Sports: Bet the Hawks with the points vs Knicks in Game 1
Spencer Toth writes: “In Game 1, the point spread is sitting at five points in favor of the Knicks, with the Hawks coming in with a +180 moneyline. We won’t be touching the moneyline in Game 1, but we will take the points with the Hawks on the spread. Both of the Knicks’ previous wins over Atlanta this year have come by a single possession, and a pair of well-rested teams will not give up an inch. The Hawks match up nicely against the Knicks, and I was happy to see them draw New York over Cleveland for that exact reason. They are capable of making every game close with New York, and getting a line like this in Game 1 makes the Hawks the way to go.”
It writes: “The Knicks have won 46 of the 64 games they were the moneyline favorite this season (71.9%). New York has gone 33-5 when it has played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -222 or shorter (winning 86.8%). Based on this game’s moneyline, the Knicks have an implied win probability of 68.9%.”
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.
