NBA Playoff Preview: Knicks vs Hawks

One of the league’s hottest teams will start their postseason in The World’s Most Famous Arena, as the scorching Atlanta Hawks take on the betting favourite New York Knicks. 

The Hawks made a major move ahead of the trade deadline, moving former cornerstone Trae Young, and then went 20-6 over the final 26 games of the season as they vaulted themselves out of the play-in tournament and into the Eastern Conference’s top six. 

The only consistency in New York’s season, meanwhile, was inconsistency. With a trip to the NBA Finals the expectation, it has helped to set up one of the best first-round matchups across both conferences – as the NBA playoff odds show.  

New York Knicks

A bold decision to fire Tom Thibodeau on the heels of a conference finals appearance didn’t immediately pay off for the Knicks. They failed to take advantage of an incredibly weak conference during the regular season, and what had been an elite offense drifted toward disorganization under new head coach Mike Brown.

Despite repeated concerns around the offense and his role in it from Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks did finish the season in the top five in offensive rating and seemingly recapture some of the two-man-game magic between Jalen Brunson and Towns toward the end of the regular season. Flanked by a complement of long, versatile wings, New York’s hopes of an NBA Finals trip rest on Brunson and Towns’ shoulders.  

Atlanta Hawks 

With Jalen Johnson continuing his ascent toward stardom and Nickeil Alexander-Walker growing into a bigger role en route to (likely) the Most Improved Player Award, the Hawks were able to pivot out of a going nowhere era built around Young. 

The result was truly incredible, as Atlanta – along with the Charlotte Hornets and the awe-inspiring Victor Wembanyama – was the story of the season’s second half. With a deep rotation and an aesthetically pleasing offense reminiscent of head coach Quin Snyder’s Utah Jazz teams, the Hawks have a tremendous opportunity to prove they’re more than a cute story – and are a genuine challenger in a wide-open Eastern Conference.      

NBA Betting Series Odds 

Series odds at BET99 - Knicks (-290) / Hawks (+230)

Series handicap at BET99 - Knicks -1.5 (-115) / Hawks +1.5 (-105)

Series total games at BET99 - Over 5.5 (-150) / Under 5.5 (+120)

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Odds as of April 14, 2026.