Knicks vs. Hawks 2026 playoff prediction: NBA odds, pick, best bet for first round series

After 82 games of basketball, the NBA playoffs are finally here, with the No

3 seed Knicks starting their postseason journey against the rising sixth seed, Atlanta Hawks

Knicks fans may not have envisioned this opponent, but Saturday’s Game 1 against the Hawks rekindles a playoff rivalry that first flared up between New York and Atlanta in 2021

Content to drop one seed, the Hawks rested their starters against the Heat in their season-finale loss

This strategic move set up a first-round matchup with Jalen Brunson and Co

The Knicks are favored to win the series, with bet365 setting their odds at -280 for an outright victory, and the Hawks at +230 to pull off an upset

Hawks playoff series prediction, best bet Although Trae Young is no longer with the team, Atlanta has been performing well of late, thanks to rising star Jalen Johnson and the breakout of combo guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker

At 6-foot-9, Johnson is a nightly triple-double threat due to his versatility

But his inconsistent shooting from beyond the arc suggests the Knicks will tolerate his perimeter attempts

Several rotation players have also thrived in their debut seasons with the Hawks, including Alexander-Walker, veteran scorer C

McCollum, and former Warrior Jonathan Kuminga

Outside of Onyeka Okongwu, though, the Hawks’ rotation of bigs is extremely limited

However, while Quin Snyder’s group may be undersized, they like to play fast, finishing third in total fastbreak points in the regular season

All eyes will be on Mike Brown, who holds an impressive 6-1 series record in the first round as a coach in the playoffs — the one loss came against the Warriors in seven games while Brown was coaching the Kings

The defensive skills of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart will have to counter Atlanta’s haul of wing playmakers

At their peak, this trio of defenders has the potential to change a series, just as they did against Boston last season

Karl-Anthony Towns is expected to be a handful opposite Okongwu

5 rebounds in two appearances versus the Hawks this season

In addition, Mitchell Robinson’s timely offensive rebounding could spell trouble for Atlanta

Betting on the NBA? Check out the best NBA betting sites Read our guide on how to bet on basketball Combine the shot creation and clutch genes of Brunson into the mix, and I’m leaning toward the Knicks’ winning ways to carry over into this opening-round series

Brown has the coaching advantage over Snyder, who enters this series with a relatively poor 23-34 overall playoff record

The Hawks will likely take one game on their own home court, but I foresee the Knicks’ size and big-game experience giving them just enough to close out Atlanta in five

The Play: Knicks to win Series 4-1 (+340, DraftKings Sportsbook) Why Trust New York Post Betting Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC

He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years

Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites