How to live stream Hawks vs Knicks: NBA Playoffs, TV channel

Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks face off against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in a compelling 3-vs-6 first-round playoff matchup, with Game 1 set for Friday night.

How to Watch Hawks vs Knicks

• When: Saturday, April 18, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: Prime Video
• Live Stream: Prime (try for free)

The Knicks enter the series as the East’s No. 3 seed at 53–29, powered by a balanced, defense-first identity and the steady leadership of Jalen Brunson, who averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists per game during the regular season.

Karl-Anthony Towns anchors the interior with 11.9 rebounds per game, giving New York a clear advantage in size. The Knicks also took the regular-season series 2–1, including a 128–125 win in December, in which Towns scored 36 and Brunson added 34, highlighting their ability to execute late in tight games.

– Live Stream Hawks vs Knicks with Prime –

Atlanta, the No. 6 seed at 46–36, comes in as one of the hottest teams in the league, winning 18 of its final 20 games to close the season.

Jalen Johnson has emerged as the centerpiece, leading the team with 22.5 points and 7.9 assists per game, while contributors like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum have fueled a high-powered offense averaging nearly 118.5 points per game. The Hawks’ pace and perimeter scoring present a real challenge, but questions remain about their frontcourt depth against New York’s physicality, setting up a series that will hinge on whether Atlanta’s offense can overcome the Knicks’ elite defense.