Hawks vs. Knicks odds, line: Proven model reveals Game 1 picks for NBA playoffs matchup on Saturday, April 18

The Cinderella Atlanta Hawks will meet the playoff battle-tested New York Knicks in the first round of the Eastern Conference NBA Playoffs on Saturday. The New York Knicks fired their head coach last season after making the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. The sixth-seeded Hawks (49-23) have lost three of four entering the NBA Playoffs. The third-seeded Knicks (53-29) are entering the NBA playoffs 2026 after winning four of their last five games. The Knicks won two of the three regular-season meetings. 

Tipoff is at 6 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Hawks lead the all-time series 204-195, but New York has prevailed in two of three postseason series matchups. The latest Hawks vs. Knicks odds have New York as 5.5-point favorites, while the over/under for total points scored is 217.5. The Knicks are at -249 on the money line.

Before making any Knicks vs. Hawks picks, you NEED to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

SportsLine's model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 23-9 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks. Anyone following could have seen HUGE returns!

The model has simulated Hawks vs. Knicks 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is going Over on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread hits 70% of the time!

Who wins Hawks vs. Knicks, and which side of the spread hits 70% of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Hawks vs. Knicks spread you should be all over, all from the model on a 23-9 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA picks!