Preview: Hawks, Knicks Set for Game 1 Showdown at MSG NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Knicks, holding home-court advantage, will host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks (54-30) enter as the Eastern Conference’s higher seed, having won eight of their final 12 regular-season games. The Hawks (46-36) clinched their postseason berth with a late surge, winning seven of their last ten. New York is a 5-point pregame favorite, with an over/under set at 215.5 points. The teams split their four-game regular-season series, with each winning once on the other’s home floor. Their most recent meeting on April 6 saw the Knicks edge the Hawks 108-105 in Atlanta. A key matchup will feature Atlanta guard Buddy Hield, who is coming off a 31-point performance in a loss to Miami on April 12, against New York’s Jose Alvarado. Alvarado has been a catalyst for the Knicks, logging 34 minutes with 16 points and seven assists in their regular-season finale. The Hawks will look to overcome a defensive lapse in their last outing, a 143-117 loss to Miami. Beyond Hield, forwards Asa Newell and Corey Kispert provided scoring support. The Knicks, meanwhile, aim to bounce back from a 110-96 home loss to Charlotte on April 12, a game where Alvarado, Miles McBride and Jeremy Sochan led the effort. Playoff history and the intense atmosphere of Madison Square Garden add another layer to this opening game. The Knicks’ superior regular-season record establishes them as the series favorite, but the Hawks’ proven ability to win in New York makes them a dangerous opponent. The series schedule indicates a quick turnaround, with Game 2 set for Monday night, also at Madison Square Garden.