The Knicks did a lot wrong to let the game slip away to the Hawks.
The New York Knicks led almost the entire game Monday night, almost being the operative word.
Every thing seemed to be going well for the Knicks. Both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were clicking well on the offensive end and like their last win over the Hawks, all five starters were scoring in the double digits.
Despite their offensive cohesion, though, the Knicks weren't able to make any big gaps against the Hawks. They led by as much as 14 at one point, but often their lead was 10 points or less while Atlanta gave chase. They weren't giving up the lead, but they weren't comfortable at any point either.
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) drives to the basket against New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBasketball is often called a game of runs for a good reason. At any point during a game one can take off on an unanswered streak of scoring that completely changes the flow of the game. The Hawks proved that principle in full as the game drew to a close.
A Hot Fourth For Atlanta
Atlanta outscored New York 28-15 in the fourth quarter, led by a career-defining performance from CJ McCollum, who looked like he was trying to take on the entire Knicks roster and all the fans in the stands of Madison Square Garden.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesMcCollum finished the game with 32 points while adding three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Behind McCollum's breakout, the Hawks erased the New York lead and went ahead 101-100 with just over two minutes left in the game.
The Hawks went on a 11-0 run in total to take the lead and with just 10 seconds left in the game, Jalen Johnson dunked down the dagger to secure the Hawks' 107-106 victory.
Atlanta's hot fourth quarter was even more evidence of the importance of building a strong lead and looking for some insurance.
Lacking at Ball-Handling and the Bonus
Knicks head coach Mike Brown chalked up the Knicks' inability to run away with the game and subsequently the Hawks' late-game comeback to a lack of execution and some simple mistakes on the Knicks' part.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown coaches against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesNamely, the two areas that Brown pointed out were the Knicks' performance from the charity stripe and their turnovers.
The Knicks turned the ball over 14 times, translating into 18 points for the Hawks, and the Knicks shot just 17-27 in their free throws, burning crucial opportunities at extra points that could have decided the game.
"At the end of the day, we've got to lock in from the free throw line and we've got to take care of the ball," Brown said (via SNY).