3 Hawks bold predictions vs. Knicks in 2026 NBA Playoffs

The Atlanta Hawks will enter the playoffs with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The phrase may be hackneyed, but the Hawks were not even supposed to be here, with a realistic chance of making a deep run and returning to the conference finals.

Their first challenge: The New York Knicks. The third-seeded Knicks and the sixth-seeded Hawks will begin their best-of-seven first-round series on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. It will be a rematch of their face-off in the opening round in 2021, which the Hawks memorably won, 4-1.

Not many expected Atlanta to make it to the playoffs, let alone as a No. 6. But the Quin Snyder-helmed squad was one of the pleasant surprises in the regular season, tallying a 46-36 record in what was supposed to be a rebuild campaign.

Here are three bold predictions for the Hawks in their first-round clash against the Knicks.

Jalen Johnson will average a triple-double

While Johnson has proven that he is more than capable of putting up a triple-double, it is much harder to do so in the playoffs. The defense will get tighter, and the action will become more physical, which could affect his flow. His lack of experience in the playoffs might also be a factor, especially against OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart.

Still, considering all of those, the high-flying forward will ball out against the Knicks. His youth, athleticism, and versatility will serve him well. He also has a high motor, which is an advantage in what could be a mudfight with New York.

Johnson averaged career-highs of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists, with the Hawks’ system primarily running through him. That won’t change against the Knicks. His high usage will give him ample opportunities to produce, making him the first player in team history to average a triple-double in the playoffs.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker will lead the Hawks in scoring

Alexander-Walker closed out the regular season averaging 26.4 points in their last five games, including two 30-point outings. He put up a career-best 20.8 points in 78 games—more than doubling his scoring average last season. He scored a career-high 41 points in March.

The numbers don’t lie, and Alexander-Walker will continue his high-scoring run against the Knicks. With Johnson expected to draw a lot of attention from the defense, NAW could get many open looks, especially from beyond the arc, where he shot 39.9% in the regular season. Similar to Johnson, Alexander-Walker could be shadowed by Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart, or even Miles McBride in his case. But that won’t be much of a problem, as he has learned to pick his spots and play within the system.

The 27-year-old guard won’t be fazed by the bright lights as well, as he has adequate experience in the playoffs, including back-to-back appearances in the conference finals with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Corey Kispert will be a key contributor

Since it is the playoffs, Snyder is expected to tighten his rotation. He would have to heavily rely on his main core of Johnson, Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and Jonathan Kuminga. But don’t forget about Kispert as well.

While he was viewed just as an add-on in the trade that sent Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, Kispert has carved out a steady role for the Hawks off the bench. His energy, high IQ, and two-way talent have been key assets, and he is expected to use them against the Knicks.

In 39 games with the Hawks in the regular season, Kispert averaged 9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 18.2 minutes. His numbers do not pop out, but he is the quintessential glue guy that every team needs in the playoffs. He might be tasked with defending Hart, Bridges, and Jalen Brunson, while also providing extra scoring.

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