The New York Knicks opened their 2026 NBA playoff campaign with a hard-fought 113-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, delivering on the promise of a high-intensity first-round clash. Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 32 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, while Julius Randle added a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds as New York seized control in the final period to earn a 1-0 series lead.
The atmosphere inside the Garden was electric from tipoff, with the home crowd feeding off early defensive pressure that forced Atlanta into 18 first-half turnovers. The Knicks built a 15-point lead by halftime, but the Hawks, led by Trae Young’s 28 points and 11 assists, clawed back to within three points early in the fourth quarter after a 12-0 run sparked by De’Andre Hunter’s three-point shooting.
New York responded with a 9-0 spurt of its own, capped by Brunson’s step-back three over Young and a follow-up dunk by Mitchell Robinson off an offensive rebound. That sequence shifted momentum decisively, and the Knicks never trailed again. Robinson finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, anchoring a defense that held Atlanta to just 38% shooting in the second half.
“We knew they’d build a run,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau after the game. “That’s what good teams do. But our guys stayed locked in, communicated on switches, and made the extra effort when it mattered. That’s playoff basketball.”
The Hawks shot 45% from the field overall but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on only 7 of 27 three-point attempts (26%). Young, while efficient with 10 assists, committed five turnovers and shot just 9-for-22 from the field. Bogdan Bogdanović added 19 points off the bench for Atlanta, but no other Hawk reached double figures in scoring.
For New York, the balanced attack proved decisive. Beyond Brunson and Randle, Derrick White contributed 15 points and six assists off the bench, while OG Anunoby added 12 points and four steals, consistently disrupting Atlanta’s rhythm on the perimeter. The Knicks outrebounded the Hawks 48-39 and held a 20-10 advantage in second-chance points.
The victory marks New York’s first playoff series opener win since 2021 and sets the tone for a series expected to be defined by physicality and defensive resilience. Atlanta will look to adjust in Game 2 by pushing the pace earlier and getting Young more involved in transition, though the Knicks’ half-court defense has been among the league’s best all season, allowing just 108.4 points per 100 possessions — third in the NBA.
Injury updates remained minimal heading into the game. Atlanta confirmed that Clint Capela was available after missing the final two regular-season games with a sore left ankle, though he played just 18 minutes and finished with six points and five rebounds. New York played without injured rookie forward Pacôme Dadiet, who remains sidelined with a stress reaction in his left foot, but otherwise entered the game at full health.
Looking ahead, Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at 8:00 p.m. ET (00:00 UTC) again at Madison Square Garden. The series will shift to State Farm Arena in Atlanta for Games 3 and 4 on April 26 and 28, respectively, should it extend that far.
For fans following the Knicks’ playoff journey, Archysport will provide live updates, postgame analysis, and exclusive insights throughout the series. Stay tuned for our breakdown of Game 2 adjustments and what Atlanta must do to even the series.
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