Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks Betting Pick & Prediction for 4/18

The NBA Playoffs are here, and the Atlanta Hawks will play against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round. The game will take place at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Fans can catch the action on Amaz.

The Atlanta Hawks, led by Coach Quin Snyder, finished the regular season with a 46-36 record. They ranked 6th in the Eastern Conference and 1st in the Southeast Division. The New York Knicks, coached by Mike Brown, ended their season with a 53-29 record. They secured the 3rd spot in the Eastern Conference and were 2nd in the Atlantic Division.

Hawks vs Knicks Game Day Info

  • Sport: NBA Playoffs
  • Teams: Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks
  • Venue: Madison Square Garden
  • Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Knicks -5.5 (-108), Hawks +5.5 (-111), Knicks MoneyLine -218, Hawks MoneyLine +179, Over/Under 217

Atlanta Hawks Team Preview

The Atlanta Hawks are coming off a recent game against the Miami Heat where they fell short by 26 points, with a final score of 143-117. Buddy Hield was a standout, scoring 31 points in just 21 minutes. Asa Newell also contributed with 17 points and 11 rebounds, showing strong efforts on the court.

In their previous game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Hawks secured a win with a score of 124-102. CJ McCollum led the team with 29 points and Dyson Daniels added a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. Jalen Johnson was also effective, adding 18 points and 9 rebounds.

The Hawks have been relying on key players like Jalen Johnson, who averaged 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in the last regular season. Nickeil Alexander-Walker also made significant contributions with 20.8 points per game. The team is facing some challenges, with Jock Landale out due to an ankle injury, but they continue to show potential in their lineup.

New York Knicks Team Preview

The New York Knicks recently faced the Charlotte Hornets at home, ending in a 110-96 loss. The team shot 43.3% from the field in this game. Jose Alvarado led with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists.

In a previous game against the Toronto Raptors, the Knicks secured a 112-95 win. Jalen Brunson scored 29 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Knicks had a strong shooting performance, hitting 54.7% of their shots.

Against the Boston Celtics, the Knicks won 112-106. Jalen Brunson again played a key role, scoring 25 points and dishing out 10 assists. Josh Hart contributed 26 points with an impressive 66.7% shooting from the field.

BTB Betting Pick

For the spread, the recommendation is to pick the Hawks at +5.5 (-111). The Knicks are favored, but without detailed stats, it’s safer to go with the underdog and the points. A projected close score makes the Hawks a reasonable choice against the spread.

For the over/under, the recommendation is to go with the Under 217 (-112). Without specific scoring data, predicting a high-scoring game is uncertain. A cautious approach leans toward a lower combined score, making the Under a safer bet.