Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks to open the Eastern Conference first round. New York went 2-1 against Atlanta during the regular season. The Knicks won the last regular season meeting 108-105 on Monday, April 6 led by 30 points from Jalen Brunson, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 36 points for the Hawks.

The Knicks are 35-17 against conference opponents. New York averages 116.5 points while outscoring opponents by 6.4 points per game.

The Hawks are 27-25 in conference play. Atlanta is 7-8 in one-possession games.

The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 0.5 more points than the 116.0 the Hawks give up. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mikal Bridges is scoring 14.4 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 20.3 points and 2.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Jalen Johnson is scoring 22.5 points per game and averaging 10.3 rebounds for the Hawks. Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 111.2 points, 40.3 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points per game.

Hawks: 6-4, averaging 120.0 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.6 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), OG Anunoby: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow), Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle).

Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (finger), Nickeil Alexander-Walker: day to day (toe), Jalen Johnson: day to day (rest), CJ McCollum: day to day (rest), Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee), Dyson Daniels: day to day (toe), Jock Landale: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Despite the fact that neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport make up a $13 billion market, there’s been a rise in curiosity around alternative ways to treat fine lines and wrinkles. That includes Chinese medicine treatments. Wendy Choi, an acupuncturist, herbalist, and licensed esthetician who owns White Rose Acupuncture and also works at Buckhead Acupuncture, says that facial acupuncture can be an effective way to rejuvenate the face.

In the treatment, 20 to 60 short and thin acupuncture needles are applied to the face at acupuncture points and to muscle layers. “We stimulate the Meridian lines, which are all over the face, and muscle layers to bring blood flow back to the face,” explains Choi. She says that targeting key areas, like the orbital area and jaw line, can help contour the face and stimulate collagen, as well as improve overall circulation, reduce fluid retention, and balance energy.

Where Choi sees the biggest difference is combining the deep body work of facial acupuncture with surface-level acu microneedling. (She chooses not to use radiofrequency microneedling in her practice as she says it goes too deep and can be damaging to the skin.) Microneedling, or the use of a device with 12 to 36 tiny needles that penetrate the skin vertically, helps trigger the body’s healing response to help turn over skin cells and ultimately promote collagen growth and elastin production, both of which contribute to a reduction in wrinkles and an improved skin texture.

“Acu microneedling is good for tightening the whole face and working on fine lines and dark spots,” says Choi. Choi recommends four facial acupuncture sessions ($170 each) every other week, preferably paired with acu microneedling ($250 each) if a patient can handle a microneedling pen. After the series of four each, Choi says that maintenance clients come about every three to four months.

While not intentional, Choi has said that many of her patients comment on how facial acupuncture has helped them in other areas. “They have more energy, have less TMJ pain, sleep better, have less stress, and say that their allergies are better,” she says.

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ATLANTA — Bryce Elder pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning, three Atlanta players homered and the Braves won another series with a 6-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Matt Olson went deep for the first-place Braves, who took two of three from Miami for their fifth series win. They split their other series, a four-game set at Arizona.

Considered the weak link in the rotation coming into the season, Elder (2-1) lowered his ERA through four starts to 0.77. He limited the Marlins to four hits over 5 2/3 innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Albies put the home team ahead with his fourth homer of the season, a 370-foot drive off Chris Paddack (0-3) that just cleared the right-field wall. The Braves followed with three straight singles, including Mauricio Dubón’s run-scoring liner that made it 2-0.

The Marlins appeared to halve the deficit in the fifth when Xavier Edwards was ruled safe at first on an attempted double play with the bases loaded. The Braves challenged, and the call was overturned when the replay showed the throw from shortstop Dubón landing in Olson’s glove just before Edwards’ cleats landed on first base for the third out.

Riley, off to a sluggish start, tacked on his first homer of the season in the sixth by sending one into the left-field seats off John King. Olson added a two-run homer against Andrew Nardi in the seventh.

Miami’s Liam Hicks broke up the shutout in the eighth with a two-run homer. Robert Suárez escaped further trouble with an inning-ending double play, and Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save.

Up next

Marlins: RHP Janson Junk (0-2, 4.32 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season Friday when Miami hosts the Milwaukee Brewers to begin a three-game series.

Braves: After an off day, Atlanta heads to Philadelphia to open a three-game series Friday. LHP Martin Perez (0-1, 3.14) will rejoin the big league roster to go against RHP Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36).