Atlanta, GA – The Atlanta Hawks have the New York Knicks on the ropes, and State Farm Arena is ready to erupt as the teams face off in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference First Round playoff series tonight.

Hawks Look to Take 3-1 Lead Over Knicks in Game 4 at State Farm Arena

Tip-off is set for 6:00 PM ET, with the Hawks leading the series 2-1 after two nail-biting home victories.

Series So Far: Heart-Stoppers in Atlanta

  • Game 1 (at MSG): Knicks 113, Hawks 102 – New York jumped out strong behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
  • Game 2 (at MSG): Hawks 107, Knicks 106 – CJ McCollum went off for 32 points in a road stunner to even the series.
  • Game 3 (at State Farm Arena): Hawks 109, Knicks 108 – McCollum delivered again with a clutch fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds left, capping a thrilling comeback win.

The Hawks have won two straight games by a single point each.

This series has been pure playoff intensity—close games, big shots, and momentum swings.

Hawks Keys to Victory: Ride the Home Crowd & Clutch Heroes

Quin Snyder’s squad has found its rhythm at home. The energy at State Farm Arena has been electric, and with a sold-out crowd expected (plus plenty of noise), the Hawks will lean on:

  • CJ McCollum – The veteran guard has been unstoppable in crunch time, averaging big numbers and making game-winning plays. He’s the heartbeat of this offense right now.
  • Jalen Johnson – Explosive scoring and rebounding. His versatility on both ends gives Atlanta a huge edge.
  • Onyeka Okongwu & Frontcourt – Controlling the paint and glass while limiting Karl-Anthony Towns.
  • Perimeter Defense (Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker) – Forcing turnovers and creating transition buckets, which has fueled Atlanta’s recent success.

Injury Note: Jock Landale (high ankle sprain) remains out, but the Hawks have managed well without him so far.

The message from the locker room is clear: Protect home court, push the pace, and make it a long night for the Knicks.

Knicks Outlook: Must-Win on the Road

New York comes in needing a victory to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole. Jalen Brunson remains their engine (expect another big scoring night), supported by Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart.

The Knicks have been strong in the paint but have struggled with turnovers and consistency from their supporting cast.

Head coach Mike Brown may tinker with the starting lineup (possibly inserting Miles McBride for more offense). The Knicks will try to slow the game, dominate the boards, and hope Brunson can engineer a road win.

Betting Odds Snapshot (as of Saturday)

  • Spread: Knicks -1.5 (slight road favorite)
  • Moneyline: Knicks -130 | Hawks +110
  • Total: Around 214.5 points

Vegas sees a tight one, but the home crowd and Atlanta’s momentum could flip that script.

Prediction

The Hawks have the momentum, the home advantage, and the clutch performers.

Expect a fired-up State Farm Arena to push Atlanta over the top in another close battle. Hawks 112, Knicks 107 – and suddenly, it’s 3-1 with a chance to close it out in New York.

Let’s go Hawks! Rise up, Atlanta. Game 4 is here—time to make some more playoff memories. Tune in on NBC/Peacock and be loud tonight!