The Knicks (1-1) had this one in their hands—until they didn’t. Up eight with under six minutes to play and in control most of the night, New York fell apart down the stretch, getting outscored 28-15 in a grisly fourth-quarter collapse. A string of empty trips, an impressive performance by CJ McCollum, and a late sequence of missed opportunities flipped what looked like a guaranteed win into a 107-106 loss. Rather than heading to Atlanta (1-1) with a commanding lead, they’ll carry this choke job
with them when they face the Hawks in Game Three on Thursday.
Both teams brought extra defensive intensity to start the game. Karl-Anthony Towns (18 PTS, 8 RBS) and Dyson Daniels (6 PTS, 2 STL, -15) took turns blocking shots, and Jalen Johnson (17 PTS, 8 RBS) coughed up an early turnover. Towns, Josh Hart (15 PTS, 13 RBS), and Mikal Bridges (10 PTS, 3-10 FG) got buckets to get our heroes cooking. Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu (15 PTS, 8 RBS) contributed for the Birds, but the offense never quite found rhythm.
On one sequence, OG Anunoby (14 PTS, 8 RBS, 2 STL) jumped a passing lane for a steal, leading to a transition three from Jalen Brunson (29 PTS, 7 AST, 10-26 FG) to make it 15-9 and force Quin Snyder to call a timeout.
Hart was a steady engine, while Brunson worked his way through a slow start, missing five of his first seven shots. For Atlanta, Daniels and CJ McCollum (32 PTS, 12-22 FG) contributed, but Johnson’s two turnovers and uneven execution stalled any momentum.
Late in the frame, the chippiness of the game boiled over. Mitchell Robinson, in for Towns, steamrolled Daniels on a screen, and while the Hawk was on the floor, Robinson walked the length of him. The Aussie took exception, and some shoving ensued. The refs reviewed it and assessed a technical on Mitch for taunting.
New York controlled the period by owning the paint and the glass, outscoring their foes 20-6 in the paint and outrebounding them 15-4. The Hawks hit 50% of their threes but failed to generate second chances, while the Knicks distributed the ball cleanly, with 10 assists on 13 makes. With Bridges scoring eight points, New York led by 11 before finishing the quarter up, 32-23.
Atlanta made its push with the second unit. With their reserves on the floor, New York lost the lead, allowing a 13-2 run that was capped by a Jonathan Kuminga pick-six.
Order returned to the universe at last when the starters came back. Brunson steadied things with a floater and a pull-up three, and Anunoby added a key three to stretch the lead again. Late in the half, McCollum kept Atlanta close with a string of tough shots, including another three and a driving bucket. New York had a response each time, though.
After Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9 PTS) blocked Brunson on a late-quarter drive, Cap inbounded the ball to Bridges, who swished it as the clock expired to give the home team a 61-54 lead at halftime.
Through the half, the Hawks shot it better from three (44% to 29%), but the Knicks doubled them in the paint (32-16) and ruled the glass (25-13 rebounds). As in the first game, KAT was quiet in the first half, scoring just four points on three shots. For Atlanta, Johnson was equally stymied, scoring four points on 0-of-4 shooting. McCollum led all scorers with 18, while Brunson had 11 for the good guys.
New York seized control right out of halftime with a quick burst. Josh Hart hit a three, Karl-Anthony Towns followed with one of his own, and the ’Bockers dominated the glass with a string of offensive rebounds and putbacks. After OG Anunoby dunked a Jalen Brunson feed, the lead stretched to 14 and had Atlanta reeling.
Hart and Bridges were doing a number on Johnson and Walker, respectively, limiting them to a combined 5-of-18 shooting through three quarters and five turnovers. The Hawks’ offense mostly fizzled, save for McCollum, who was carrying the team on his veteran shoulders. He pieced together a small run with a layup, free throws, and a floater—and mixed it up with Jose Alvarado, with their close talking earning them offsetting techs. With all the starters now in double digits and Towns clicking with the offense (scoring 11 of his 18 points in Q3), New York took a 91-79 advantage into the final frame. The Garden was rocking.
Atlanta kicked off the quarter with buckets from Corey Kispert and Onyeka Okongwu, prompting a timeout from Mike Brown. Timely hoops from Jordan Clarkson and OG Anunoby gave the hosts some breathing room, but the visitors chipped the deficit to four as Jalen Johnson finally got involved. When Jalen Brunson hit two free throws and a short floater, the Knicks were back up eight with five-and-a-half minutes left.
Jonathan Kuminga gave the Hawks life, leading a 12-4 run with help from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Johnson. Meanwhile, New York clung to a one-point lead after misses from Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Brunson. Mikal Bridges, who couldn’t buy a bucket in the second half, picked off a CJ McCollum pass to preserve that slim lead, and Brown called another timeout with 2:43 on the clock. At that point, Atlanta had outscored New York 20-9 in the quarter.
When McCollum went high off the glass to get his shot over Towns, his layup gave Atlanta a 101-100 lead with two minutes to go. At the other end, Anunoby missed two free throws. McCollum followed with a floater to push the lead to three, but Captain Clutch answered with a three to tie it with 1:21 left.
A Hart deflection brought the crowd to its feet, but Brunson missed a midrange look, and McCollum struck again. Brunson missed another jumper, leading to Johnson sprinting the floor for a dunk that felt like a backbreaker. With 10 seconds left, New York trailed by four.
Out of a timeout, Brunson created space and buried a three with nine seconds remaining, making it a one-point game.
Hart fouled McCollum with six seconds left, and he missed both free throws. Hart secured the rebound and pushed to Bridges, but Bridges hesitated near the arc, unsure of the situation, and settled for a rushed 12-footer that missed. There was time to attack the rim. Mike Brown could’ve called a timeout. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. That gross sequence capped a brutal 28-15 fourth-quarter collapse and a game that had been in hand through most of the night. Yuck.
Up Next
Professor Miranda is slated for your recap. Game Three will be played on Thursday in Georgia. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
