Knicks 113-102 Hawks: Game 1 Playoff Recap
Brunson and Towns Power Knicks to Series-Opening Victory Over Hawks
The New York Knicks opened their Eastern Conference playoff series with a commanding 113-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, riding a dynamic scoring duo and a strong second-half surge to take a 1-0 lead. The win marked the Knicks’ first postseason game under new head coach Mike Brown, who takes the reins after the team’s successful run under Tom Thibodeau that culminated in an Eastern Conference finals appearance last season.
Jalen Brunson set the tone early and finished with a game-high 28 points, continuing his remarkable playoff scoring prowess. The Knicks’ star guard, who already owns the franchise record with eight 40-point postseason games, was nearly unstoppable in the opening period. He made his first six shots and poured in 19 points in the first quarter alone, propelling New York to a 30-24 lead. While Brunson cooled somewhat after his scorching start, his early explosion established the Knicks’ offensive rhythm and forced Atlanta to adjust its defensive schemes.
Karl-Anthony Towns provided the second-half spark New York needed to close out the game. After a quiet first two quarters in which he managed just six points on 1-for-6 shooting, Towns dominated after halftime to finish with 25 points total, including 19 in the second half. His late-game heroics proved decisive. With the Knicks holding an eight-point advantage, Towns drained a three-pointer to extend the lead. Following a Gabe Vincent basket and two buckets from Jordan Clarkson, Towns converted a three-point play and hit another three-pointer, fueling a 10-0 run that pushed the lead to 106-87 with approximately four and a half minutes remaining.
“We did a great job as a team just fighting and continuing to find ways to score and also impact winning,” Towns said after the game.
The Knicks received additional contributions throughout their rotation. OG Anunoby added 18 points with his trademark two-way versatility, while Josh Hart chipped in 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, providing the hustle and glass-cleaning that has become his trademark. The balanced attack helped the No. 3 seed Knicks overcome some third-quarter lulls and hold off Atlanta’s late charge.
Hawks’ Late Rally Falls Short
The Hawks, who earned the No. 6 seed by going 20-6 after the All-Star break, showed the resilience that defined their late-season surge. CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 26 points, while Jalen Johnson added 23 points in an impressive playoff debut. The Hawks’ backcourt kept them within striking distance for much of the game, even as the Knicks controlled the tempo.
Atlanta’s offense started fast, with both teams shooting at blistering paces early—the Knicks opened 8 for 9 while the Hawks countered at 6 for 7. However, the game slowed to a crawl in the third quarter amid several unusual stoppages. McCollum was reviewed for a hostile act and assessed a technical foul after kicking his leg up on a jumper into Brunson’s groin area. The Hawks also employed the “Hack-a-Robinson” strategy, intentionally fouling poor free-throw shooter Mitchell Robinson twice, though the tactic yielded mixed results as Robinson went just 1 for 4 from the line.
Despite trailing by nearly 20 points late in the fourth quarter, Atlanta mounted an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 106-98, briefly injecting tension into the final minutes. However, Towns responded with a crucial basket to restore the double-digit lead and extinguish the Hawks’ hopes.
“I like the way we came back at the end of the game,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “They were resilient in that situation, it was just too little, too late.”
Brunson acknowledged that Atlanta would pose a greater challenge in Game 2. “We know that they’re going to be ready for Game 2,” he said. “So quick turnaround and extreme focus.”
Game 2 will take place Monday night at Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks aiming to take a commanding 2-0 lead before the series shifts to Atlanta.
