New York didn't get the best game from their superstar on Saturday, but they got the job done anyway.
The New York Knicks didn't win pretty on Saturday night, but they didn't need to. The road team beat the Atlanta Hawks 114-98 in Game 4, tying the Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2 and heading back to Madison Square Garden with momentum.
Jalen Brunson wasn't his sharpest, but it didn't matter. And in the playoffs, that's what matters: finding ways to get the job done regardless of any one individual performance.
"It's a team game," Mike Brown said postgame. "Sometimes guys like [Brunson] can struggle. But the one thing he continued to do, they sent double teams at him, which gave other guys wide open looks. He set great screens. He's got to find other ways to help us win."
Brunson did exactly that. And two teammates made sure the scoring didn't skip a beat.
Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesKAT and OG Carried the Load
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his first career postseason triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He became just the fourth Knicks player to record a playoff triple-double, joining Walt Frazier, Dick McGuire and Josh Hart.
Five of his six buckets came from the paint, and he made nine trips to the free throw line by drawing contact against a Hawks frontcourt that simply has no answer for him.
OG Anunoby led New York with 22 points and 10 rebounds, hit timely threes to ice Atlanta's momentum swings, and played 40 minutes with just one turnover. On the other end, he spent the night making life miserable for Jalen Johnson, who finished with just 14 points.
Brown spoke specifically about the value of having those two guys available when Brunson isn't making shots. "If KAT's struggling, he's got to find other ways to help us win," Brown said. "If OG's struggling, they've got to find other ways. Whoever it is, they just got to keep trying to find different ways to help us win."
The Momentum Is Moving In The Knicks' Favor
New York fell into a 2-1 series hole after back-to-back losses to the Hawks before bouncing back in Game 4. The response was decisive. The Knicks took control midway through the first quarter and never let Atlanta back in, leading by as much as 24 in the fourth.
New York also held CJ McCollum, who made nine threes in the first three games, scoreless from beyond the arc in Game 4. McCollum still led Atlanta with 17 points, but without the three-ball falling, the Hawks never found a rhythm.
Game 5 is Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The crowd will be loud and the momentum is swinging in New York's favor. And if Saturday showed anything, it's that this Knicks team doesn't need Brunson at his best to win. They just need everyone to find a way.