The New York Knicks have a healthy squad going into the playoffs.
The New York Knicks begin their quest for a championship at Madison Square Garden on Saturday when they host the Atlanta Hawks.
The Knicks finished the season third in the East with a 53-29 record, two games better than they were last season. They also won the NBA Cup during the regular season. The Knicks won five of their last six games. They dropped their regular season finale against the Charlotte Hornets, but rested their starters in the game.
The Hawks finished sixth in the East with a 46-36 record. They lost three of their last four games, but had an 11 game win streak from February 22 to March 25. Like the Knicks, they rested their starters in their regular season finale against the Miami Heat.
The Knicks went 2-1 in the regular season series. The Knicks won the first game on December 27, 128-125. The Hawks bounced back to win on January 2, 111-99. The Knicks won on April 6, 108-105, with both teams healthy and playing their full squads.
New York Knicks Injury Report
The Knicks have a healthy squad with no players on their injury report.
They are expected to start Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Mitchell Robinson will get time off the bench. Jordan Clarkson played himself into minutes by the end of the season, and the Knicks have Jose Alvarado and Jeremy Sochan as possible options.
In the regular season, the Knicks had an offensive rating of 119.8, good enough for third in the league. Their defensive rating was 113.3, which was seventh in the league. Their +6.5 net rating put them at fifth in the league.
Atlanta Hawks Injury Report
Jock Landale is OUT with a right high ankle sprain. He's been out since April 1. On April 16, the Hawks announced that he was expected to miss at least two more weeks. The Hawks acquired Landale from the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline in exchange for cash.
On the season, Landale averaged 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 68 games. He played 23 games for the Hawks, averaging 9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
RayJ Dennis, Keshon Gilbert, and Christian Koloko are all AVAILABLE but not expected to play many minutes, if they play at all.
The hawks are expected to start Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and CJ McCollum. Jonathan Kuminga, Gabe Vincent, and Mouhamed Gueye will get time off the bench.