Game Details

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Date

Saturday, April 25, 2026

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Tip-Off

1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT

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Venue

State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

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Series

Atlanta Hawks lead 2-1 (Eastern Conference First Round)

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TV/Stream

ESPN / NBA League Pass

Betting Odds — Game 4

Live odds were unavailable at time of publication. Check your preferred sportsbook for current lines.

Market	Atlanta Hawks	New York Knicks
Moneyline	—	—
Spread	—	—
Over/Under	—	—

Odds not available at time of research. Please verify at DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM before wagering.

Preview: A Stunning Upset in the Making

Nobody told the Atlanta Hawks they were supposed to lose this series.

When the bracket seeded the New York Knicks as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference against Atlanta's No. 6 seed, the conventional wisdom was clear: the Knicks — with a 53-29 regular season record and a top-five net rating — would handle business against a Hawks team that finished just 46-36. New York ranked 3rd in the East in offensive rating (119.8) and 7th in defensive rating (113.3). They were the superior team on paper.

Six days later, Atlanta leads the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 at State Farm Arena.

Game 1 went according to script — New York won 113-102 on their home court at Madison Square Garden. But the Hawks flipped the narrative in stunning fashion. They stole Game 2 in MSG, 107-106, before returning home to win a white-knuckle Game 3, 109-108, on Thursday night. Every game in this series has been decided by single digits or less. Every game has mattered.

Now Atlanta has a chance to take a 3-1 series lead that would put the Knicks' backs firmly against the wall. The pressure has shifted dramatically — and today's clash could define the entire series.

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Atlanta Hawks Analysis

Record: 46-36 (6th, Eastern Conference) | Series: 2-1

The Atlanta Hawks were considered a surprise playoff participant. At 46-36, they squeaked into the sixth seed in the East, finishing with a modest +2.4 net rating for the regular season — but playoff basketball has been a different story entirely.

Coach Quin Snyder has his team playing with pace and purpose. Atlanta ranked 5th in the league in pace during the regular season (101.7) and is using that tempo to their advantage in this series. Against the Knicks' deliberate, grind-it-out style (New York was 27th in pace at 96.8), the Hawks have consistently pushed the ball and created easy transition opportunities.

The offensive engine in this series has been CJ McCollum, who is averaging a remarkable 27.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game through three contests. McCollum has been a nightmare for New York's perimeter defenders, using his veteran craftiness to get into the paint and exploit mismatches. His ability to score at all three levels — efficiently shooting 50.8% from the field and 39.1% from three in the series — has been the difference-maker.

Jalen Johnson has emerged as Atlanta's do-everything second option, posting 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Johnson's blend of athleticism and shot creation gives the Hawks a versatile weapon who can punish the Knicks from the elbow or on the drive. At just 24 years old, Johnson is playing with the poise of a seasoned playoff performer.

Off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga has been outstanding — averaging 16.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. Kuminga's athleticism and interior play have kept the Hawks afloat in moments where the starters struggled.

Defensively, Dyson Daniels deserves enormous credit. Averaging 8.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game to go along with 2.7 steals per game in the series, Daniels has been a versatile defensive disruptor who has made life difficult for Jalen Brunson at the point of attack. And Onyeka Okongwu anchors the paint — 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game — providing the rim protection and screen-rolling efficiency that keeps Atlanta's half-court offense humming.

State Farm Arena will be loud on Saturday, and the Hawks have now won back-to-back games. Momentum is entirely on Atlanta's side.

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New York Knicks Analysis

Record: 53-29 (3rd, Eastern Conference) | Series: 1-2

The New York Knicks are in trouble — and everyone knows it.

A team that finished with the 3rd-best offensive rating in the entire NBA (119.8) and a +6.5 net rating has been outplayed by a lower seed in two of three games. Something isn't clicking, and the Knicks need to figure it out quickly before Atlanta puts one foot in the second round.

The talent is undeniably there. Jalen Brunson remains one of the best clutch performers in the league, averaging 27.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game in the series. Brunson has carried the Knicks' offense when it mattered most — his 23-point effort in Game 3 nearly wasn't enough as Atlanta edged New York 109-108. The problem is that Brunson is being asked to do too much, and Atlanta's rotating schemes — often sending Daniels and a helper — have made his shot creation difficult.

Karl-Anthony Towns has been New York's best performer through three games, averaging 21.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. His 22-point, 13-rebound effort in Game 3 showcased the all-around excellence that made the Knicks believe pairing him with Brunson could be a championship formula. Towns' ability to punish Atlanta's interior defense remains the Knicks' most reliable weapon. If New York is going to find a way back into this series, Towns needs to be the fulcrum.

OG Anunoby has been excellent, averaging 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds — his 29-point, 9-rebound game in Game 3 was a tour de force. Anunoby's two-way versatility is exactly what New York needs more of from their supporting cast.

The problems lie with the supporting cast. Mikal Bridges is averaging just 7.0 points per game in the series, shooting inefficiently and struggling to find his rhythm against Atlanta's active defense. Josh Hart contributes in hustle plays — 9.3 points and a gaudy 12.0 rebounds per game — but New York needs more scoring punch from their wings if Brunson is going to be slowed at all.

Coach Mike Brown's adjustments will be critical in Game 4. The Knicks' pace issue is real — New York's deliberate system works when their half-court execution is elite, but Atlanta has been able to exploit live-ball turnovers and defensive breakdowns in transition. Forcing a half-court game and protecting the paint must be priorities heading into Saturday.

Head-to-Head & Series Trends

The 2026 first-round series between the Hawks and Knicks has been defined by one consistent theme: margin. Every game has been decided by 11 points or fewer, and three of three contests have come down to the final moments.

Game 1 (April 18, MSG): Knicks 113, Hawks 102 — New York's defense held Atlanta to 102 points, and Brunson orchestrated efficiently at home.
Game 2 (April 20, MSG): Hawks 107, Knicks 106 — Atlanta stole a road game behind McCollum's 32-point effort and clutch execution down the stretch.
Game 3 (April 23, State Farm Arena): Hawks 109, Knicks 108 — A one-possession thriller that gave Atlanta the series lead; Anunoby's 29 nearly wasn't enough.

Key trend: Atlanta has won both close games in this series. The Hawks' offensive efficiency from McCollum and Johnson has been the deciding factor in clutch situations. The Knicks have been unable to stop Atlanta's offense (allowing 109 PPG in the series), while the Hawks have held New York to 109 PPG as well — but with Atlanta's pace advantage creating more possessions.

The series total has averaged 217 points per game. With both offenses capable and both defenses leaking, over trends have been relevant.

Home team has won every game in this series (Knicks won G1 at MSG; Hawks won G2 at MSG... wait — no, Atlanta stole G2 on the road). Actually, Atlanta has won both close games including one on the road. The Knicks are 0-for-2 when the game comes down to the final possession.

Prediction & Best Bets

🎯 Best Bet

Our Pick

📊 Atlanta Hawks 112, New York Knicks 107

The momentum, the venue, and the statistical edge all point toward Atlanta in Game 4. The Hawks have now won two consecutive games, including a road win at Madison Square Garden — one of the most hostile environments in professional sports. They have the right pieces: McCollum's scoring, Johnson's versatility, Okongwu's paint dominance, and Daniels' defensive disruption are a collectively cohesive unit that has repeatedly solved the Knicks.

FAQ

What is the current series score between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks?

The Atlanta Hawks lead the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference First Round series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on April 25. Atlanta won Game 2 on the road at MSG (107-106) and Game 3 at home (109-108).

Where is Game 4 being played?

Game 4 is at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawks have home-court advantage for Games 3 and 4, while the series would return to Madison Square Garden for Games 5 and 7 if necessary.

Who are the top performers in the series so far?

For Atlanta, CJ McCollum leads with 27.0 PPG, followed by Jalen Johnson (21.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG). For New York, Jalen Brunson averages 27.7 PPG and Karl-Anthony Towns posts 21.3 PPG with 11.0 RPG. OG Anunoby has also been outstanding for the Knicks at 20.3 PPG.

What time does Game 4 tip off and where can I watch it?

Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT) on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The game is expected to air on ESPN and is also available via NBA League Pass.

Have the Hawks ever beaten the Knicks in a playoff series before?

The Hawks and Knicks have met several times historically in the playoffs. This 2026 first-round matchup represents the latest chapter, with Atlanta once again playing the role of the underdog — and so far proving the oddsmakers wrong. ---