Knicks Open Playoffs With 113-102 Win Over Hawks Behind Brunson and Towns

The New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 on Saturday, April 18, 2026, to take a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. Jalen Brunson opened the game with a dominant performance, while Karl-Anthony Towns sealed the victory with a strong second-half surge. The win marks a successful postseason debut for head coach Mike Brown.

The Details

Jalen Brunson set the tone early, making his first six shots and scoring 19 points in the opening quarter to give the Knicks a 30-24 lead. Brunson finished the night with a game-high 28 points, adding seven assists and five rebounds to his stat line.

Karl-Anthony Towns provided the decisive blow in the second half. After a slow start where he scored only six points on 1-for-6 shooting by halftime, Towns exploded for 19 points in the final two periods. He ended the game with 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.

The Knicks' defense held Atlanta to 43.7% shooting for the game and limited the Hawks to 47 points in the second half. New York also dominated the hustle stats, outscoring Atlanta 22-13 in fast-break points and 13-7 in second-chance points. Supporting efforts included OG Anunoby's 18 points and Josh Hart, who recorded a game-high 14 rebounds alongside 11 points.

Atlanta's offense was led by CJ McCollum with 26 points and Jalen Johnson with 23. However, the Hawks struggled to maintain momentum against New York's depth. McCollum was also assessed a technical foul for a hostile act during a jump shot attempt into Brunson's groin area.

The game was decided by a 10-0 New York run in the fourth quarter. The burst featured a Towns three-pointer, two buckets from Jordan Clarkson, and a three-point play followed by another three from Towns, pushing the lead to 106-87 with 4:30 remaining. Although the Hawks responded with 11 straight points to cut the deficit to 106-98, Towns scored again to restore the double-digit lead.

Context

The Knicks entered the series as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, mirroring their seed from the previous year when they reached the Eastern Conference finals. This series marks the first postseason appearance under head coach Mike Brown, following four playoff trips in five years under Tom Thibodeau.

The Hawks enter as the No. 6 seed after a strong surge late in the season, going 20-6 after the All-Star break. Atlanta had some success against New York during the regular season, winning their only meeting in January 111-99, though the Knicks won a subsequent April matchup 108-105.

Individual matchups remain a key focal point. Jalen Brunson continues to build on a postseason legacy that includes the Knicks' record for 40-point games, while Jalen Johnson is viewed as a critical x-factor for Atlanta's hopes of an upset.

What's Next

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks will look to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. New York's ability to maintain their defensive intensity and fast-break efficiency will be critical.

Atlanta must find a way to neutralize Brunson's early impact and provide more consistent scoring support for McCollum and Johnson. Coach Quin Snyder noted the team's resilience during their late run in Game 1, but acknowledged it was "too little, too late."

Following the victory, Jalen Brunson emphasized the importance of mental resets, stating that the team expects Atlanta to be ready for Game 2 and requires "quick turnaround and extreme focus."