ATLANTA. The New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114-98 in NBA playoffs, tying the first-round Eastern Conference series at 2-2 and putting pressure back on both teams. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded the first triple-double of his playoff career and was the standout performer in a dominant performance by the Knicks.
After falling by one point in the previous two games, the New York Knicks responded with a solid performance from the opening tip. The Atlanta Hawks started with energy, but the visiting team took control midway through the first quarter and never relinquished the lead for the rest of the game.
With Jalen Brunson setting the pace, OG Anunoby punishing on offense, and Karl-Anthony Towns generating from multiple areas, the Knicks steadily built their advantage with authority. Ball movement, rebounding control, and a much more aggressive defense completely changed the tone of the series.
The game was well in hand before halftime. The New York Knicks closed the first half with a commanding 68-44 lead, showing superiority on both ends of the floor and shutting down Atlanta Hawks' main offensive weapons.
After the break, the Hawks tried to mount a comeback, but each run was answered by the visitors. Towns continued to add in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking, while Brunson managed the tempo intelligently to maintain the lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Knicks led by 20 points.
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In the fourth quarter there was no room for surprises. New York built a maximum advantage of 24 points, silenced State Farm Arena, and even allowed bench players significant minutes when the game was completely decided.
Karl-Anthony Towns completed a historic performance with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the fourth Knicks player to record a triple-double in NBA playoffs. OG Anunoby was the leading scorer for the visitors with 22 points, while Jalen Brunson contributed 19 points and once again led the team's perimeter game.
For the Atlanta Hawks, CJ McCollum finished as the leading scorer with 17 points, though he was much more controlled than in the previous games. The Knicks held him without three-point success after his nine made threes accumulated in the first three games. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 15 points and Jalen Johnson chipped in 14.
The New York Knicks recover the emotional momentum of the series after two consecutive one-point losses and return home with the opportunity to strike first in the decisive fifth game.
Game 5 will be played at Madison Square Garden this Tuesday, while the series already has a sixth game guaranteed back in Atlanta.