Preview: Hawks, Knicks Set for Game 2 at Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Knicks will look to protect home court and build on their series lead when they host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of their NBA playoff series on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Eastern Conference first-round series continues after the top-seeded Knicks (54-30) held off the eighth-seeded Hawks (46-36) for a 112-102 victory in Saturday’s opener. New York has now won three of the four meetings between the teams this season, including a 108-105 road win on April 6.

Atlanta enters seeking a split before the series shifts south. The Hawks will rely on the hot hand of guard Buddy Hield, who is coming off a 31-point performance in 21 minutes during Atlanta’s regular-season finale, a 143-117 loss at Miami on April 12. Hield’s scoring burst provides a potential spark for a Hawks offense that struggled to find consistency in Game 1.

For the Knicks, guard Jose Alvarado remains a key catalyst. He logged 34 minutes in New York’s final regular-season game, a 110-96 loss to Charlotte on April 12, contributing 16 points, five rebounds and seven assists. His energy and playmaking have been vital for a Knicks team that finished with the conference’s best record.

The Hawks’ recent form has been uneven, with a 3-3 record over their final six regular-season games following a six-game winning streak. The Knicks, meanwhile, closed the season 5-5 over their last 10 contests but have shown the ability to lock down defensively at home.

History in this matchup has favored the home team, with each club winning on its own floor in three of the past four head-to-head meetings. The Knicks will aim to continue that trend and take a commanding 2-0 series lead before traveling to Atlanta for Game 3 on Thursday.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Madison Square Garden.