How to Stream Knicks vs. Hawks Live With Sling TV
How to watch the Knicks vs. Hawks First Round series in the 2026 NBA Playoffs with Sling, plus full live stream schedule, preview, and more.
The New York Knicks take on the Atlanta Hawks in the First Round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, a rematch of a 2021 playoff series that Knicks fans remember bitterly. Games on ESPN, NBC, and ABC will be available to stream live with Sling. Here’s everything you need to know.
Use the link below to subscribe to Sling Essentials + Select now.
Knicks vs. Hawks First Round Schedule: Dates, Times, and Channels
Here’s a look at the complete First Round schedule between New York and Atlanta:
#3 New York Knicks vs. #6 Atlanta Hawks
- Game 1 : Atlanta at New York – Saturday, April 18 (6 ET, Prime Video)*
- Game 2 : Atlanta at New York – Monday, April 20 (8 ET, NBC)
- Game 3 : New York at Atlanta – Thursday, April 23 (7 ET, Prime Video)*
- Game 4 : New York at Atlanta – Saturday, April 25 (6 ET, NBC)
- Game 5 : Atlanta at New York – Tuesday, April 28 (If necessary)
- Game 6 : New York at Atlanta – Thursday, April 30 (If necessary)
- Game 7 : Atlanta at New York – Saturday, May 2 (If necessary)
* Not available with Sling
How to Watch New York vs. Atlanta with Sling
The first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs will be shared between the NBA’s 2026 broadcast partners: ABC, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, NBC, and Peacock. (Note: Prime Video and Peacock games require a separate subscription).
- Any game on ESPN is on Sling. Watch with Sling Essentials (our new plan for ESPN & more at the lowest price on the market), Sling Orange, or Sling Orange + Blue. You can also watch with a 1, 3, or 7 Day Pass subscription.
- Games on NBC and/or ABC will be available with Sling Select or Sling Blue in the markets listed below:
- If you live in any of these areas, Sling Essentials & Select will get you games on NBC and/or ABC, plus ESPN games.
- ATTENTION KNICKS FANS in New York City: Watch all of the 2026 NBA Playoff games available with Sling, including the NBA Finals, by subscribing to Sling Essentials & Select.
- Games on Amazon Prime or Peacock require a separate subscription.
Subscribe to Sling Essentials + Select using the link below!
New York vs. Atlanta Series Preview: Things to Watch
https://youtu.be/nzVq5v8j-VE?si=6USJQX2lx2wV-ZPM
Imagine trading away one of the best players in franchise history and somehow getting better (cue Mavericks fans bursting into tears). That’s the scenario the Atlanta Hawks are in since trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in January. Since then, the Hawks have won nearly two-thirds of their games, posting the seventh-best record in the entire NBA over that span.
Much of that credit goes to Jalen Johnson, who averaged a career-best 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game this season. JJ is likely an All-Pro for the new look Hawks, and he’s received help on the defensive end from two-way star Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Dyson Daniels.
All three of those players will need to step up their game as they take on the 3-seed Knicks. Jalen Brunson has earned his reputation as a top playoff-performer, averaging just under 30-points per game in the postseason, while big man Karl-Anthony Townes has been a monster on the boards, finishing second in the NBA with 11.9 rebounds per game.
While the Knicks obviously need their top players to step up, the series against the Hawks could be decided by their role players. In his matchups against Atlanta this season, Mitchell Robinson was an absolute force, averaging 10.5 rebounds (including four offensive boards) and 2.0 blocks in just 19.0 minutes per game. 3-and-D wingman OG Anunoby will be tasked with defending Jalen Johnson, so his performance on that end will be vital. And while his minutes have dropped this year, the perimeter defense and secondary playmaking from Mikal Bridges will be essential.
Still, the biggest X-factor may be psychological. The Hawks eliminated the Knicks in five games during the First Round of the 2021 playoffs, a loss that left scars on players and fans alike. And just last week, the Knicks barely escaped with a win in a pulse-pounding preview of this series. The narrative around the Knicks has stressed championship urgency, so they need to stay focused against a Hawks team that many pundits are picking in an upset.
Series Odds and Prediction
https://youtu.be/WFCna0goqAg?si=2W5L9AgvYm03e709
Heading into the 2026 NBA Playoffs, DraftKings Sportsbook has established the New York Knicks as heavy favorites to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in their first-round matchup. Currently, the Knicks are priced at -290 on the series moneyline, while the Hawks sit at +230. For bettors looking at the series spread, the Knicks are listed at -1.5 games (-115), requiring New York to win the series in six games or fewer to cover the bet.
Beyond the outright series winner, the total games market offers another interesting angle for this series. DraftKings has set the series over/under line at 5.5 games, with the Over favored at -150 and the Under listed at +120. In these types of over/under bets, predicting the outright victor is irrelevant; the total length of the series is what matters. The current pricing suggests that oddsmakers expect a somewhat competitive matchup that is likely to extend to at least six games, leaning away from a quick New York sweep.
Prediction: Knicks in six.
To watch Knicks-Hawks games on ESPN with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to a 1 Day Pass! Or to watch all NBA Playoff games on ESPN with Sling, subscribe to our new Sling Essentials service, with ESPN and much more!