The New York Knicks will open the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks after a hectic final day of the regular season pushed Atlanta to the No. 6 slot and lifted Toronto to fifth.
The Raptors secured the final guaranteed postseason berth by beating the Nets on Sunday. Atlanta could have locked up the fifth seed with a victory in Miami, but head coach Quin Snyder rested most of his rotation, resulting in a loss that dropped the Hawks one position.
“Whoever we play is going to be really good,” Snyder said before tip-off in Miami. “The main thing is to be healthy heading into the postseason.”
Inside the Knicks’ locker room, guards Jordan Clarkson and Miles McBride said the matchup made little difference. “We didn’t pay any attention to that,” Clarkson noted.
Analysts favor New York
The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III and John Hollinger both picked New York to win the series in six games, citing the Knicks’ size and rebounding. Edwards named Mikal Bridges as New York’s potential difference-maker, while Hollinger identified Jonathan Kuminga as a swing piece for Atlanta.
Knicks evaluate draft talent
On Monday, New York hosted a pre-draft workout featuring Kowacie Reeves Jr. (Georgia Tech), Toby Harris (Iona), William Kyle (Syracuse), Jayden Epps (Mississippi State) and Wyatt Fricks (Marshall), according to SNY.tv. None of the five appear in ESPN’s top-100 prospects list. The Knicks currently hold one first-round and two second-round selections in the 2026 draft.
McBride’s progress after surgery
McBride, 25, showed progress in Sunday’s finale with all starters resting, scoring 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting in 24 minutes. The guard, who returned recently from sports-hernia surgery, said ongoing pain management will be crucial the rest of the way. “Dealing with the residual pain isn’t fun, but it’s part of the journey,” he said.
The Knicks and Hawks open their first-round series later this week at Madison Square Garden.
Source: Hoops Rumors
