The Latest York Knicks lost Game 1 of their first-round playoff series to the Atlanta Hawks 112-106 at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026.
Jalen Johnson’s early dunk shifted momentum in Atlanta’s favor
With the Knicks leading 12-10 late in the first quarter, Hawks forward Jalen Johnson caught a pass from Mouhamed Gueye and finished with a driving dunk over Mitchell Robinson. The basket capped a 7-0 Atlanta run and gave the Hawks their first lead of the game. Johnson finished with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists, shooting 7-of-12 from the field.
New York’s offense stalled without consistent three-point shooting
The Knicks made just 8 of 31 three-point attempts (25.8%), well below their season average of 36.4%. Landry Shamet, inserted into the starting lineup for his shooting, went 0-for-5 from deep and had two turnovers. Jalen Brunson scored 28 points but shot 9-of-22 and committed four turnovers, limiting his effectiveness in clutch moments.
Atlanta’s defensive rebounding limited second-chance opportunities
The Hawks secured 12 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points compared to New York’s 6. Mouhamed Gueye grabbed four offensive boards and added 10 points and eight rebounds. Clint Capela contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds, altering multiple shots in the paint and deterring Knicks drives.
Coach Tom Thibodeau’s adjustments failed to close the gap
After calling a full timeout with 8:45 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Knicks down three, New York went scoreless for over two minutes. Atlanta extended the lead to eight on a transition layup by Dejounte Murray. The Knicks cut the deficit to two with 1:12 left but missed a potential tying three-pointer by Brunson as the shot clock expired.
Why did the Knicks struggle offensively in Game 1?
New York shot poorly from three-point range and turned the ball over 15 times, leading to 20 Hawks points. The team relied heavily on Brunson’s scoring but lacked consistent support from role players, particularly in perimeter shooting and offensive rebounding.
What adjustments might the Knicks build for Game 2?
The Knicks could consider reducing Shamet’s minutes if his shooting struggles continue, potentially giving more playing time to bench shooters like Derrick White or Precious Achiuwa. Improving defensive rebounding and limiting second-chance points will be critical to competing in Atlanta’s home environment.