The New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks meet in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs tonight. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks enter as the third seed with a record of 53-29. The Hawks are the sixth seed, finishing with a record of 49-23.
New York won two of their three regular-season meetings against Atlanta. However, the Hawks lead the all-time series 204-195.
The latest odds have New York as 5.5-point favorites. The over/under for total points scored is set at 217.5.
Jalen Brunson has been a key player for the Knicks, averaging 26.0 points and 6.8 assists per game during the regular season. Meanwhile, Jalen Johnson leads the Hawks with averages of 22.5 points and 7.9 assists.
Injury reports reveal that Tyler Kolek, Mitchell Robinson, and Karl-Anthony Towns are day-to-day for the Knicks due to injuries. Jock Landale is out for the Hawks with an ankle injury.
It’s worth noting that the Knicks fired their head coach last season after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. The Hawks, on the other hand, have lost three of their last four games entering these playoffs.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding player availability as game time approaches.
This matchup promises to be intense as both teams look to establish momentum in this playoff series.
