Hawks Look To Rebound Against Knicks In Game 2 Tonight At Madison Square Garden

The Atlanta Hawks head into Game 2 of their first-round series against the New York Knicks tonight, April 20, 2026, looking to even the score at Madison Square Garden.

After a frustrating 113-102 defeat in the series opener on Saturday, Atlanta faces the immediate pressure of avoiding a 0-2 deficit before the series shifts back to Georgia.

The Hawks remained competitive early on, with CJ McCollum (26 points) and Jalen Johnson (23 points) leading an offense that matched the Knicks through the first half. However, the momentum shifted decisively in the third quarter.

After tying the game early in the third, Atlanta went cold, shooting just 39% from the field and 22% from the three-point line.

Defensively, the Hawks had no answer for Jalen Brunson, who erupted for 19 first-quarter points on his way to a game-high 28. And despite being a top-five team in pace, the Hawks were outplayed in their own game; New York outscored them 22-13 in fastbreak points.

Head coach Quin Snyder emphasized a “too little, too late” resilience in the opener, but for Game 2, the Hawks must address several critical areas:

Aggression and Ball Movement: Snyder noted the offense became stagnant in Game 1, allowing the Knicks’ defense to set. Finding ways to attack the basket and move the ball will be vital to creating space.

Managing the Frontcourt Crisis: The Hawks are already without backup center Jock Landale (ankle). Further complicating matters, Onyeka Okongwu—who scored 19 points in Game 1—is listed as questionable for tonight with right knee inflammation. If he cannot go, the Hawks may have to rely on 21-year-old Mouhamed Gueye.

Bench Production: Atlanta’s bench was outscored 20-13 in Game 1. Outside of their core four, the rest of the team combined for only 17 points, highlighting a desperate need for a “spark plug” performance from players like Jonathan Kuminga.

The Knicks enter tonight’s game as 5.5-point favorites.