Hawks vs. Knicks prediction: New York to win, Jalen Brunson projected for big game in Game 1 [2026 NBA Playoffs]

NBA Playoffs action continues on Saturday at 6:00 PM ET as the Atlanta Hawks take on the favored New York Knicks in Game 1 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs series at Madison Square Garden.

Based on the latest simulations and today’s injury updates, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Knicks as the most likely winner of the Hawks vs. Knicks Game 1 matchup.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Knicks lineup will feature stars like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, while the Hawks will look to Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum.

This article offers further insights into Saturday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Hawks vs. Knicks prediction: Who will win Game 1?

Using trusted machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Saturday's NBA Playoffs game between the Hawks and Knicks, forming part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model gives the Knicks a 71% chance of beating the Hawks in Game 1 of the series. Our predicted final score has the Knicks winning 111-105.

According to our model, the Knicks (-6.5) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 217.5 points has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.

Hawks vs. Knicks Game 1 odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Hawks vs. Knicks picks and best bet for Game 1

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

According to our best NBA bets for Saturday, the top play to make on this game is Knicks -6.5 at the spread.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Hawks vs. Knicks Game 1 player props

Looking for Hawks vs. Knicks NBA player props? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Johnson is expected to lead the Hawks with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, while Jalen Brunson is projected to have 26 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists for the Knicks.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Hawks prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Hawks are:

Knicks prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Knicks:

Hawks vs. Knicks Game 1 updates and essential details

Saturday's Game 1 between the Knicks and Hawks in the NBA Playoffs is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM ET.

• Who: Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks
• Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM ET/3:00PM PT
• Venue: Madison Square Garden
• NBA Playoffs bracket: Updated NBA Playoffs bracket and schedule

The NBA Playoffs is an annual elimination tournament held to determine the league's champion.

Sixteen teams, including the Hawks and Knicks, reached the 2026 NBA Playoffs, which spans four rounds: the First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals.

Each round of the NBA Playoffs is contested as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins moving on to the next round until a champion is crowned.

Conclusion

We predict the Knicks, with a 71% win probability, will likely beat the Hawks in Saturday's NBA playoffs matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.