One of the more unpredictable and thrilling matchups in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs this season is over in the Eastern Conference, where the New York Knicks were expected to stay in control for much of their series versus the Atlanta Hawks.

That hasn’t happened. After four games, the series is tied 2-2 thanks to clutch playing by Hawks stars and flashes of dominance by the Knicks. It’s been an up-and-down series, which makes it guaranteed fun to watch, and Tuesday night on NBC and Peacock, you can catch the next installment live.

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How to Watch Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Game 5CJ McCollum, #3 of the Atlanta Hawks, during a game against the New York Knicks.

CJ McCollum, #3 of the Atlanta Hawks, during a game against the New York Knicks.

The Hawks and the Knicks are set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, April 28, live on NBC and streaming simultaneously on Peacock. The game will be the only NBA on NBC matchup of the night.

Mike Tirico will be on the call for NBC Sports, with color commentary by the legendary Reggie Miller, and Zora Stephenson reporting from courtside. Want more NBA coverage? Tune into Peacock at 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday for NBA Showtime, Peacock’s exclusive NBA pregame show.

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What to expect from Hawks vs. Knicks Game 5 on NBC & PeaockKarl Anthony Towns during a game against the Indiana Pacers.

Karl Anthony Towns during a game against the Indiana Pacers.

When the Knicks have won during this series, they’ve done it by double digits, including a 114-98 victory in Game 4 in which they were rarely in danger of trailing. When the Hawks have won during this series, they’ve done it by a single point, notching a 107-106 victory in Game 2 and a 109-108 win in Game 3, both on clutch shots in the final minute from CJ McCollum.

Now, a win’s a win, but the nature of these games means that all signs point to the higher-seeded Knicks as the team with more firepower, something backed up by Karl-Anthony Towns’ first-ever postseason triple-double in Game 4 over the weekend. When the Knicks are firing on all cylinders, the Hawks struggle to keep up, and they’ve got momentum thanks to a late surge in Game 3 that almost won them the game, and a decisive victory in Game 4. Now, they’ll head back to Madison Square Garden and try to get the lead in a pivotal Game 5. If the Hawks can slow them down just enough to force more of those clutch moments, though, it’s still anyone’s series, particularly with Game 6 guaranteed and set to take the action back to Atlanta.

NBA on NBC

The NBA is officially back on NBC and Peacock, with exclusive games every week across broadcast and streaming featuring some of the biggest stars in the game.

The fun continues on NBC and Peacock with the NBA Playoffs from Round 1 starting on Sunday, April 19, and continuing through the Western Conference Finals at the end of May!

From real-time stats and predictive fun to highlight clips and immersive angles, Peacock’s suite of NBA features puts you in control of how you watch the game:

Courtside Live: An interactive, mobile-first viewing experience with new camera feeds and immersive perspectives that bring you to center court. Available weekly for select games throughout the 2025-2026 season.

Peacock Performance View: Unlock a next-level broadcast with dynamic overlays showing playing insights, heat maps, scoring probabilities, and more.

Can’t Miss Highlights: Swipeable vertical highlights on the Peacock mobile app for quick recaps of clutch moments, momentum shifts, and standout plays, wherever you are.

Peacock ScoreCard: Turn every game into an interactive experience. Pick from a range of cards and watch as your predictions come true.

Catch Up With Key Plays: Instantly revisit the most pivotal game moments with a curated playlist you can access anytime below your player controls.

Sign up for Peacock now to make sure you’re not missing a second of the NBA action. You can also gift the experience!