Nickeil Alexander-Walker's record-breaking 36 points weren't enough as the Knicks snatched a dramatic, last-second victory from the Hawks.
The game between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks came down to nearly milliseconds, and that's no exaggeration. CJ McCollum had a half-court buzzer-beater wiped off the board, which would have tied the game and sent it to OT, but instead, his fingers still grazed the ball as the clock went from 0.1 to 0.0s.
"I thought I got it off in time," McCollum said. "Quick release, I had a good angle to bank it. I was just trying to put enough on it to give it a chance, but replay said otherwise."
So the New York Knicks edged out the Atlanta Hawks 108-105 on Monday night at a sellout State Farm Arena, ending Atlanta's 13-game home winning streak and leaving the Hawks still needing a combination of results over their final three games to secure the fifth or sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The night belonged to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who erupted for seven made 3-pointers and a game-high 36 points, breaking the Hawks' franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a single season while furthering his case for Most Improved Player. Yet it was another example of Atlanta showing it belongs in the upper echelon of the East — and an example of the work still left to do.
"This is like a lesson," Alexander-Walker said. "It's good for us to be battle-tested headed for the postseason. That's a good team. Now we know how much better we can be. And we know their strengths, they know ours, and it's how do we make an adjustment should we meet in the playoffs."
In a back-and-forth contest featuring 11 lead changes and eight ties, the ultimate deciding factor was Jalen Brunson, who finished with 30 points and 13 assists and would not be denied in the fourth quarter — scoring 15 of his points in the final period, including 12 consecutive for New York down the stretch. Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and OG Anunoby contributed 22 points as the Knicks improved to 51-28.
Both Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels notched double-doubles for Atlanta. Johnson posted 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Daniels added 11 points and 12 rebounds.
"There were slight breakdowns where we had chances to extend our lead or hold it for a few more possessions," Johnson said. "Those are moments I wish we had back because it changes how the game looks."
Hawks coach Quin Snyder pointed out a few situational lapses that held the team back in pivotal moments, including giving up and-ones, missed rebounding opportunities, and late-game cross-matching issues.
"There were a number of plays where we had what I would call breakdowns or mistakes," Snyder said. "If we eliminate those, we're in a much better place. Whether that's giving up an and-one, not fouling when we have an opportunity to foul, offensive rebounds — things like that on the defensive end. If we make those plays, we have a chance to extend the lead and really control the game."
The Knicks outscored Atlanta 52-34 in the paint, with Towns and Mitchell Robinson — who grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots — doing significant damage. Snyder noted that the absence of Jock Landale, who did not play due to a right high ankle sprain, complicated Atlanta's interior matchup management.
"You don't want to pin it on one thing, but Jock has been an important part of our team with the minutes he gives us, his physicality, and the matchups," Snyder said. "I put Tony in a difficult position early, and we did the same with Mo guarding Mitchell Robinson. That's not how we've typically used him."
The Knicks also had early success in pick-and-roll before Atlanta adjusted, and Snyder said Towns' ability to draw shot fakes created individual breakdowns that the Hawks corrected as the game progressed.
Atlanta hauled in 19 offensive rebounds but converted just five second-chance opportunities. Johnson said the emphasis on crashing the glass was right even if the results did not reflect it.
"We had good looks — Zach had a couple open shots, CJ had an open one, I had a look," Johnson said. "Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don't. That's why we emphasize crashing the glass. The more opportunities you create, the more chances you have to convert."
Snyder said the late-game execution issues were less about scheme and more about the kind of possession-level discipline that only competitive games can teach.
"Down the stretch, I thought their physicality played a role in our execution," Snyder said. "We've been good in those situations. Tonight was a little different game. We haven't been in a lot of possession games like that. We broke down in some areas that don't need to be overanalyzed, and we'll also look at what we did from an execution standpoint late."
Alexander-Walker described the home crowd as providing a playoff atmosphere, adding even greater importance to each possession.
"The atmosphere was amazing. It definitely felt like a playoff game — trading buckets, getting stops, big plays, both teams going on runs and responding," he said. "It's that chess match everyone talks about. I thought we handled that well. I'm proud of how everyone approached it. Even though we didn't win, there's a lesson in it, and if we use that lesson, it'll help us when it matters."
Snyder agreed that the timing of the loss carries value as the Hawks prepare for potential first-round playoff matchups.
"Certainly," he said when asked if games like Monday's help prepare his team for the postseason. "Some of the situations that came up are things we'll hopefully see again. I think this is our postseason right now. There's not a long runway with only a few games left — every possession matters."
Atlanta sits at 45-34, holding the fifth seed in the East with a 1.5-game lead over the Toronto Raptors, though Toronto holds the tiebreaker if the two teams finish level. The Hawks close the regular season with back-to-back games against the Cleveland Cavaliers before finishing against the Miami Heat.
Alexander-Walker said the urgency is not lost on anyone in the locker room.
"Everyone understands the sense of urgency — not just this past week, but since the All-Star break," he said. "Every game matters right now. We understand the standings and what's at stake. We've just got to flush this one, take what we can from it, and apply it moving forward, especially with Cleveland coming up."
The Hawks go on the road to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.