NBA Playoff Bracket 2026, Updated Picture, Schedule After Knicks Eliminate Hawks

The New York Knicks are one step closer to a shot at redemption from last spring's Eastern Conference Final loss.

The Knicks advanced to the second round Thursday night with a blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

New York isn't the only team looking to close out a first-round series with a Game 6 win.

Here's a look at the updated playoff picture and remaining schedule now that the Hawks have been eliminated.

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Thursday Schedule and Results

New York Knicks 140, Atlanta Hawks 89 (Knicks win series 4-2)

Philadelphia 76ers 106, Boston Celtics 93 (Series tied 3-3)

Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET (Timberwolves lead series 3-2)

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Friday Schedule

Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. ET (Magic leads series 3-2)

Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET (Cavaliers lead series 3-2)

Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m. ET (Lakers lead series 3-2)

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Thursday highlights

Knicks 140, Hawks 89

It didn't take much time for the Knicks to make it clear they were closing out their first-round series against the Hawks on Thursday night.

The Knicks grabbed an early advantage, then went on a 67-13 run to secure the largest halftime lead in NBA playoff history.

That run ended with a fight between Mitchell Robinson and Dyson Daniels, who were both ejected late in the second quarter.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with a game-high 29 points in 27 minutes thanks to 11-for-14 shooting from the field.

The Knicks also received 44 points from 10 different bench players late in the blowout victory. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points in the loss.

New York will now advance to play either the Celtics or the 76ers in the second round.

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76ers 106, Celtics 93

The 76ers' big three stars have successfully forced Game 7.

After trailing the Boston Celtics by five points early in the second quarter of a must-win Game 6, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George erased the deficit and never looked back.

The Sixers led by as many as 23 points on their way to extending their postseason.

Maxey led the Sixers with 30 points in the victory, while George added 23 points. Embiid contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Leading Celtics scorers Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were each held below 20 points in the loss.

This series will now come down to Saturday's Game 7 in Boston at a time yet to be determined. Whichever team wins will get the chance to face the Knicks in Round 2.

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This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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