Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks face off against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in a compelling 3-vs-6 first-round playoff matchup, with Game 1 set for Friday night.

How to Watch Hawks vs Knicks

• When: Saturday, April 18, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: Prime Video
• Live Stream: Prime (try for free)

The Knicks enter the series as the East’s No. 3 seed at 53–29, powered by a balanced, defense-first identity and the steady leadership of Jalen Brunson, who averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists per game during the regular season.

Karl-Anthony Towns anchors the interior with 11.9 rebounds per game, giving New York a clear advantage in size. The Knicks also took the regular-season series 2–1, including a 128–125 win in December, in which Towns scored 36 and Brunson added 34, highlighting their ability to execute late in tight games.

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Atlanta, the No. 6 seed at 46–36, comes in as one of the hottest teams in the league, winning 18 of its final 20 games to close the season.

Jalen Johnson has emerged as the centerpiece, leading the team with 22.5 points and 7.9 assists per game, while contributors like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum have fueled a high-powered offense averaging nearly 118.5 points per game. The Hawks’ pace and perimeter scoring present a real challenge, but questions remain about their frontcourt depth against New York’s physicality, setting up a series that will hinge on whether Atlanta’s offense can overcome the Knicks’ elite defense.

This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.

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The Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic face off in a win-or-go-home play-in matchup for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

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How to Watch Hornets vs Magic

• When: Friday, April 17, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• TV Channel: Prime Video
• Live Stream: Prime (try for free)

Orlando enters with a slight edge in consistency and record (45–37) compared to Charlotte (44–38), powered by All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season.

The Magic have been more balanced defensively, allowing about 109.0 points per game compared to Charlotte’s 126.0, a gap that highlights one of the biggest mismatches in this game. With a +0.5 average scoring margin and strong assist-to-turnover efficiency, Orlando’s structure in half-court sets could be critical in a high-pressure elimination setting.

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Charlotte, however, comes in with momentum after advancing through the play-in and winning the season series 3–1 against Orlando, including a 130–111 blowout fueled by elite three-point shooting.

The Hornets are led by LaMelo Ball, who averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists, and has already delivered a 30-point performance in the play-in round. Charlotte’s offense (116.0 points per game) and top-tier rebounding give them upset potential, but their defensive struggles and reliance on perimeter shooting create volatility.

This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.

Live Stream Hornets vs Magic with Prime: Start your free trial now!

With Prime Video, you can watch live television without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. They carry a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, and the best part is you can try it out today for free.

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