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Knicks Vs Hawks
The New York Knicks opened their 2026 NBA Playoff campaign in style, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 at Madison Square Garden on April 18.
It was a statement victory, one that featured a dominant first quarter, a near-meltdown, and a resilient closeout. Here are three key takeaways from the Knicks’ Game 1 triumph.
GettyKnicks’ Jalen Brunson
If Atlanta had any doubts about who runs the show at Madison Square Garden, Jalen Brunson answered emphatically in the first quarter. The All-Star point guard scored in 17 points in the opening frame alone, a rapid-fire succession of pull-up threes, fadeaways, and driving floaters that left the Hawks scrambling.
Brunson finished with 28 points and seven assists on the night, reaffirming his role as New York’s playoff engine. Despite Dyson Daniels’ defensive pressure and Atlanta occasionally throwing double teams at him, Brunson found creases in the Hawks’ coverage all game. His ability to score in isolation and draw fouls remains the Knicks’ most unguardable weapon in a seven-game series.
Jalen Brunson got off to a hot start for New York, highlighted by 19 1st quarter points, the most by a Knicks player in the opening quarter of a playoff game in play-by-play era (since 1997-98).
It didn’t matter if he was left open or had to play through contact, he shot 60% in
GettyNew York Knicks team
New York’s biggest takeaway from Game 1 isn’t what they did right, it’s how close they came to blowing a 16-point lead in the second quarter. The Hawks went on a blistering run, fueled by back-to-back Onyeka Okongwu threes, CJ McCollum attacking in isolation, and Jalen Johnson playing at an elite level.
Atlanta cut what was a 40-24 Knicks lead to 55-57 at the half, completely flipping the script. Karl-Anthony Towns’ multiple turnovers during this stretch were a glaring issue.
Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby & Jalen Brunson combine for 72 points to help lift NYK to G1 win over ATL. Hawks hung in but CJ McCollum slowed in 2nd half after strong start (4-for-10, 4 TOs); NYK got enough stops in 2nd half to win amid Brunson’s 1-for-11 to close game.
The Knicks’ ability to survive this lapse and regroup at halftime speaks to their mental toughness, but those vulnerabilities will need to be addressed before next game.
The Knicks’ bench was a decisive factor in Game 1. While Atlanta’s reserve unit, led by Jonathan Kuminga, Zaccharie Risacher, and Mouhamed Gueye, gave the Hawks some life, New York’s second unit stabilized possessions and kept the Knicks’ advantage intact through the third quarter.
Jordan Clarkson provided instant offense in the fourth, Mitchell Robinson made his presence felt defensively with key blocks, and Miles McBride connected from deep late in the game to help ice it.
“That’s what Josh does. That’s what he’s been known to do.”
Deuce McBride talks about Josh Hart’s multi-faceted impact on the game:
Atlanta’s bench averaged just 37.1 points per game during the regular season, ranking 16th in the league, a gap the Knicks exploited effectively at key moments. If New York continues to get contributions up and down the roster, the Hawks will struggle to match that firepower in a series.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for PFSN, Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar
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