Atlanta Hawks Face Tough Schedule To Clinch Playoff Spot

The Atlanta Hawks held a play-in spot for most of the 2025-26 season, but that is no longer the case. With just four games left, they sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 45-33 record. The Hawks went 13-2 in March, which included an impressive 11-game win streak, to vault themselves into a playoff position. Jalen Johnson emerged as an All-Star and potential All-NBA talent, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker continues to impress in a career-best season.

However, Atlanta cannot look too far ahead because it can still fall back into the play-in. The Hawks face the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers twice, and Miami Heat to close out the regular season. They will certainly be tested to earn a top-six seed for the first time since 2021.

Atlanta Hawks Face Tough Schedule To Clinch Playoff Spot

Taking a Closer Look at the Knicks and Cavaliers Season Series

The top four teams in the Eastern Conference already punched their tickets to the playoffs, but not all of them are locked into their current seeds. Cleveland sits four games ahead of the Hawks in fourth at 49-29. While unlikely, Atlanta can still sneak its way into the No. 4 seed. However, the Hawks must go undefeated this week, and the Cavaliers must lose all four of their games. Cleveland’s battle lies more with New York, as the Knicks remain just one game ahead at 50-28.

The Hawks have not faced the Knicks or Cavaliers since Jan. 2. Both season series are tied at one apiece. New York did not make any major changes to their squad mid-season, but Cleveland and Atlanta certainly did. The Cavaliers traded Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter for James Harden, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schröder. The Hawks sent out Trae Young and Kristaps Porziņģis for CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, Jonathan Kuminga, and Buddy Hield. Cleveland and New York will see an entirely different Hawks squad that is firing on all cylinders heading into these contests.

Hawks Could Face the Knicks Or Cavaliers in a Seven-Game Series

Atlanta sits two games in front of the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors. The Hawks have a 2.5 game lead for the Southeast division crown, which supersedes all season tiebreakers, meaning the No. 5 or No. 6 seed is the most likely outcome. This suggests they would face New York or Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs.

The Jalen Brunson–Karl-Anthony Towns duo presents problems for any team, but Atlanta is well-equipped to make the Knicks’ stars work. Dyson Daniels is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He finished runner-up to Evan Mobley for Defensive Player of the Year last season and earned first-team All-Defense honors. Onyeka Okongwu, while smaller than most centers, possesses great lateral quickness at his size. He can stay in front of Towns when he bullies his way to the rim and is comfortable guarding the Knicks’ star center beyond the arc.

Towns’ rim protection leaves a lot to be desired, and Jalen Johnson can certainly take advantage of that. However, the Hawks must find a way to keep the Knicks off the offensive glass. New York grabbed 14 and 19 offensive rebounds in the first two contests.

Daniels and Alexander-Walker would have their hands full against Donovan Mitchell and Harden, but they do not back down from a challenge. Cleveland’s frontcourt duo of Jarrett Allen and Mobley poses a big threat to Atlanta, especially with Jock Landale unlikely to play. Atlanta would probably lean on its fastbreak scoring to get easy buckets before the Cavs get in position. In the halfcourt, the Hawks could put Mitchell and Harden in pick-and-roll actions to make them work on defense.

It will be interesting to see how Atlanta fares against these two teams in potential playoff previews.