As the 2025-26 NBA regular season wraps up on Sunday, April 12, the Atlanta Hawks find themselves in a high-stakes position that could dictate a marquee first-round playoff matchup against the New York Knicks.
The Knicks have locked in the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, setting the stage for an intriguing best-of-seven series depending on how the final games unfold.
The Scenarios for Atlanta
The Hawks enter the final day at 46-35, holding the No. 5 seed but vulnerable to slipping to No. 6.
The Toronto Raptors sit one game back at 45-36 and own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Atlanta (sweeping the season series).
Key Sunday matchups:
- Hawks vs. Miami Heat (away)
- Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets (home)
- Orlando Magic also in the mix with their own game
If the Hawks lose and the Raptors win on Sunday, Toronto takes the No. 6 seed via the tiebreaker, and the Knicks will face Atlanta in the first round. New York would host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary) at Madison Square Garden — a tough road for the Hawks but one that offers a winnable series against a Knicks team dealing with its own inconsistencies.
If the Hawks beat Miami, they lock in the No. 5 seed regardless of other results. In that case, the Knicks would play the winner of the 6-seed race (likely Toronto).
Atlanta would instead open against the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers — still a challenge, but potentially more favorable depending on injury situations and momentum.
The Orlando factor: If the Raptors lose and the Magic win their game in Boston, Orlando could slide into the 6-seed mix. However, multiple tiebreakers favor Toronto over Orlando in most scenarios, keeping the Raptors as the primary threat to Atlanta’s positioning.
Why This Matters for Hawks Fans
A matchup against the Knicks would be electric. New York boasts a physical, defense-first identity led by stars like Jalen Brunson, but they’ve shown vulnerabilities in the half-court and against versatile frontcourts.
The Hawks, riding a strong late-season surge (including a recent win that helped clinch the Southeast Division), feature a dynamic group capable of stretching the floor and creating mismatches.
Key players like Jalen Johnson have elevated their game, providing two-way impact that could test New York’s interior defense.
Trae Young’s absence earlier in the season (via trade) has allowed others to step up, creating a more balanced attack.
For Atlanta, securing the No. 5 seed avoids the extra travel and hostile environment of opening in Toronto or potentially facing a surging Orlando squad. Home-court advantage in a 5-4 series (if it goes that far) would be huge at State Farm Arena.
Broader Playoff Implications
No matter the outcome, the Eastern Conference first round is shaping up to be compelling:
- Knicks (3) vs. Hawks or Raptors (6)
- Cavaliers (4) vs. the other
The winner of that 3-6 series could face a rested but beatable top seed path, depending on how the play-in tournament resolves.
Hawks fans should tune in with rooting interests aligned: a win in Miami simplifies everything. But even in the worst-case scenario, this Hawks team has the talent and momentum to make noise in the postseason.
The regular season ends Sunday — and for Atlanta, the real season might just be beginning. Stay locked in; State Farm Arena could be rocking soon.