“It’s a long game. You’ve got to play to zero,” said CJ McCollum after his standout performance.
Early Tuesday, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the New York Knicks 107-106 at Madison Square Garden. This victory ties the playoff series at one game apiece.
The Hawks trailed by 12 points after three quarters. Yet they staged a remarkable comeback, outscoring the Knicks 28-15 in the fourth quarter.
CJ McCollum led all scorers with 32 points. Jonathan Kuminga contributed significantly with 19 points off the bench, while Jalen Johnson added 17 points for Atlanta.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson was the top performer with 29 points. However, Mikal Bridges missed a potential game-winning shot as time expired.
McCollum did miss two crucial free throws with just 5.6 seconds remaining in the game. “I gotta make my free throws. I’ll get in the gym on Wednesday and make sure I tighten up,” he stated.
This loss is notable for the Knicks, who had been 40-1 in postseason games when leading by 12 or more after three quarters since the 1954-55 season.
Josh Hart expressed frustration, saying, “This is a game we should have won.” The stakes are high as Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta.
The Knicks are aiming to reach the second round of the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season—something they haven’t achieved since between 1991 and 2000.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential injuries or lineup changes for either team ahead of Game 3.
