Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: NBC / Peacock
The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks return to Madison Square Garden for a pivotal Game 5 with the series knotted at 2-2. New York evened things with a dominant 114-98 road win in Game 4 on Saturday, powered by Karl-Anthony Towns’ first playoff triple-double. The Knicks, as the higher seed with home-court advantage, now look to take a 3-2 lead and push the Hawks to the brink of elimination in front of a raucous MSG crowd. Atlanta stole two close games on the road earlier but was outclassed in Game 4 and must find answers on the glass and defensively to extend the series.
Team Records
New York Knicks: 53-29 regular season (3rd in Eastern Conference); 2-2 in the series.
Atlanta Hawks: 46-36 regular season (6th in Eastern Conference); 2-2 in the series.
New York earned the No. 3 seed with strong home dominance (30-10) and one of the East’s top defenses. Atlanta, the No. 6 seed, advanced via the play-in and has shown resilience with narrow road wins but lacks the depth and rebounding edge of the Knicks.
Recent Team Forms
Knicks (last 10 games, including playoffs): Strong rebound after dropping Games 2 and 3 narrowly; 114-98 blowout in Game 4 highlighted their efficiency. In the series, New York is averaging 110.3 PPG on 46.1% shooting (37.6% from three), 45.3 RPG, and 21.5 APG while holding opponents to 104.0 PPG. They lead in rebounding (27.7% offensive rebound rate) and second-chance points.
Hawks (last 10 games, including playoffs): 2-2 in the series with gritty one-point wins in Games 2 and 3 but a flat 98-point effort in Game 4. Series averages: 104.0 PPG on 44.8% shooting (32.6% from three), 39.8 RPG, and 21.5 APG. Atlanta has struggled on the boards and in transition against New York’s physicality.
Injury Report
New York Knicks:
Jalen Brunson (PG) – Probable (left ankle; exited briefly in Game 4 but returned and is expected to play).
No other major injuries reported; roster otherwise at full strength.
Atlanta Hawks:
Jock Landale (C) – Out (right high-ankle sprain; sidelined since early April, expected to miss remainder of first round).
N’Faly Dante (C) – Out (knee).
No new reports on other rotation players.
New York’s health advantage, especially Brunson’s availability, gives them a clear edge in guard play and overall depth.
Key Player Matchups
Jalen Brunson (NYK) vs. Atlanta’s perimeter (CJ McCollum / Dyson Daniels): Brunson has been up-and-down shooting-wise in the series but remains the Knicks’ engine. Daniels has provided pesky on-ball defense, but Brunson’s playmaking will be key in a hostile home environment.
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK) vs. Hawks frontcourt (Onyeka Okongwu / Jalen Johnson): Towns exploded for a 20-10-10 triple-double in Game 4. His spacing and rebounding (Knicks lead series in boards) create mismatches against Atlanta’s depleted center rotation.
OG Anunoby (NYK) vs. Hawks wings: Anunoby dropped 22 points in Game 4 and anchors New York’s elite defense. He’ll likely shadow Atlanta’s scorers while contributing on the glass.
CJ McCollum (ATL) vs. Knicks backcourt: McCollum’s 32-point outburst in Game 2 was Atlanta’s highlight. He’ll need to carry the offense again, but the Knicks’ length has limited his efficiency lately.
Additional notes: New York dominates second-chance points (18.3 vs. 12.5) and paint scoring. Atlanta’s fast-break opportunities (15 per game) have been neutralized by New York’s transition defense.
Series History
2025-26 Regular Season: Knicks hold a 2-1 edge in head-to-head matchups.
landofbasketball.com
2026 Playoffs (Current Series): Tied 2-2.
Game 1: NYK 113, ATL 102
Game 2: ATL 107, NYK 106
Game 3: ATL 109, NYK 108
Game 4: NYK 114, ATL 98
The series has featured three one-possession games before New York’s blowout response in Game 4.
Betting Trends
Knicks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games and covered easily in Game 4. Atlanta is 1-3 ATS as underdogs on the road this postseason. The total has gone Under in 3 of 4 series games. New York is 30-10 at home in the regular season.
Game Odds
Atlanta Hawks 214.5
New York Knicks – 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, April 27, 2026
