Official website predicts Knicks will eliminate Hawks 4-2! Is Towns entering unstoppable mode? Kuminga could be the X-factor.

On April 13 Beijing time, the Knicks confirmed their first-round matchup against the Hawks and hold home-court advantage. The NBA official website previewed this series and predicted the Knicks will ultimately eliminate the Hawks 4-2, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Here are the related details—

The New York Knicks have finally entered the long-awaited playoffs, eager to overcome the Hawks and push all the way to the Finals.

This might not be the Knicks' ideal first-round matchup—after all, they swept the Raptors 5-0 this season. The Hawks, however, seemed unconcerned about facing New York, resting key players in their season finale loss to the Heat and swapping the 5th and 6th seed positions with the Raptors. For the Knicks, this presents a tougher challenge: they won 2-1 against the Hawks this season, but the total net scoring differential was actually minus 6 points. The Knicks finished strong (12 wins, 4 losses after March 10), while the Hawks were also hot (22 wins, 9 losses after February 2).

Key Highlights

Jalen Brunson has performed at an MVP level against the Hawks, averaging 29.3 points and 7.8 assists per game. But if Karl-Anthony Towns faced the Hawks every night, he might just collect awards effortlessly. The Knicks center averaged 28.5 points, 63% shooting, and 13.5 rebounds in their two meetings, nearly entering the legendary 60/50/90 efficiency club. Together, they averaged 11.6 points more than their season totals.

Regardless of who Hawks coach Quin Snyder assigns to defend him, Towns is a difficult point to contain.

If Towns stays outside too long, the Hawks have sizeable forwards to disrupt him; but once he gets deep into the paint, he can overpower interior players like Okongwu (the Hawks' biggest player, Landale, is out with an ankle injury).

Focus Areas

Transition Pace.

The Hawks love to play fast—their regular-season pace ranked 5th in the league, while the Knicks ranked only 25th.

However, the Knicks comprehensively outperform them in efficiency: higher points per 100 possessions (118.9 vs. 115.1), fewer points allowed (112.2 vs. 112.6), and a better net efficiency (6.6 vs. 2.5).

Both teams are not adept at drawing fouls, with free throw attempts and makes ranking in the lower tier of the league.

Yet the Hawks rank 3rd in fast-break points, the Knicks 14th, so even in the playoffs, the Hawks are more likely to maintain their speed.

Additional Points for Both Teams

Knicks

The Knicks' rotation has been closely watched this season. Their most common starting lineup—Brunson, Towns, Anunoby, Bridges, Hart—has not created as many mismatches and advantages as many (including coach Mike Brown) expected.

However, the bench is strong: the trio of McBride, Shamet, and Mitchell Robinson is likely to handle most rotation minutes during tight playoff moments.

Hawks

Which Hawks team would lack formidable forwards?

Jalen Johnson (6'8"), Daniels (6'7"), and Alexander-Walker (6'5") are enough to trouble most opponents.

But the Knicks also possess a defense-first forward trio—Anunoby, Bridges, Hart—fully capable of handling them.

Therefore, the Hawks' X-factor could be the natural scorer CJ McCollum (point guard) and the substitute Jonathan Kuminga.

Don't forget how terrifying Kuminga was against the Rockets when the Warriors activated him in desperation last spring.

Key Stat

11.0—After the All-Star break, the Hawks' net rating per 100 possessions improved by 9.7 points, ranking 5th in the league; before the All-Star break, this figure was -1.3 (ranking 19th).

An improvement of 11.0 points per 100 possessions is the largest post-All-Star break advancement among all teams in the past 27 years.

Typically, playoff performance correlates more with pre-All-Star break performance than post-break. But in these 27 years, six other playoff teams improved at least 8 points per 100 possessions after the All-Star break: five of them (including last year's Warriors) won a playoff series, and three exceeded expectations to advance.

The 2003-04 Pistons (strengthened via trade with the Hawks) improved 8.9 points per 100 possessions after the break and eventually won the championship as the East's 3rd seed.

The Hawks' post-All-Star break opponents were relatively weak (cumulative win rate only 46.1%), and the Knicks won the post-break meeting on April 7, ending the Hawks' 13-game home winning streak.

Official website prediction: Knicks eliminate Hawks 4-2.

Based on record, data, and team momentum, the Hawks are in peak form, capable enough to end the Knicks' 2025-26 season.

But the Knicks have more experience and will firmly control the series. Thinking ahead about the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Celtics would be a fatal mistake, and they know this well.

The Towns + Brunson combination will continue to torment the Hawks' defense, and Mitchell Robinson can fight for 4-5 extra possessions per game, enough to overwhelm opponents in the playoffs.