Jalen Brunson scored 39 points, nearly matching his own franchise record for 40-point playoff games, as the New York Knicks routed the Atlanta Hawks, 126-97, on Wednesday to seize a 3-2 lead in their first-round series.
With their second straight blowout, the Knicks positioned themselves to close the series on Friday in Atlanta. If not, they’ll have another chance at home in Game 7—but the way they looked in Games 4 and 5, it’s hard to imagine why they’d need it.
Knicks Retake Control of Series
The Hawks once held a 2-1 series edge with one-point wins in Games 2 and 3. Since then, the gap has widened. The Knicks rolled to a 114-98 victory in Game 4, then built a 32-point cushion Tuesday, never letting the lead dip below double digits in the second half.
Brunson hadn’t cracked 30 in the series until he poured in 17 in the fourth quarter, erasing any thought of an Atlanta rally. He now owns eight 40-point playoff games in just three postseasons with New York.
OG Anunoby added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Knicks are one win away from advancing to the second round for the fourth straight season—their longest run since nine consecutive trips from 1991-92 through 1999-2000.
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Dyson Daniels chipped in 17, but CJ McCollum, the spark behind both Hawks victories, managed only 6.
New York Rolls Early
The Knicks set the tone early, hitting 8 of their first 12 shots. A 9-0 burst late in the first quarter pushed them ahead 35-22. Brunson capped an 8-0 run in the second with back-to-back baskets to make it 59-37, and New York carried a 64-48 lead into halftime after shooting 58.5%.
Up 18 after three, the Knicks slammed the door. Brunson delivered a three-point play and a 3-pointer to ignite a 12-0 run that stretched the margin to 110-82—another emphatic statement in a series that has swung hard in their favor.
