Miles McBride identified the Knicks’ historic series-clinching victory over Atlanta as the moment their championship confidence took hold.
The New York Knicks did not cruise through the opening round of their championship run, but Miles McBride believes their response to adversity changed everything.
New York trailed the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 after consecutive losses by a combined two points. Instead of allowing those narrow defeats to derail their season, the Knicks responded by winning three consecutive games and closing the series with one of the most dominant performances in franchise history.
“Honestly, when we came back from Atlanta, I was like, ‘I don’t think there’s anybody that can stop us,’” McBride said on the “This Crew Has It” podcast. “I mean that 50-point dub, I’m like, ‘This team looks crazy.’”
The Knicks defeated the Hawks 140-89 in Game 6, finishing the first-round series with a 51-point road victory.
Knicks Turned Adversity Into Momentum
McBride’s reflection captures why the Atlanta series became such an important part of New York’s championship story.
The Knicks could have unraveled after losing Games 2 and 3 by one point apiece. Instead, they controlled the rest of the matchup. New York won Game 4 by 16 points, Game 5 by 29 and Game 6 by 51.
The clincher was never competitive. The Knicks scored 83 points in the first half and carried a playoff-record 47-point advantage into halftime. Their lead eventually grew to 61 before they completed the largest postseason victory in franchise history.
OG Anunoby led New York with 29 points, while Mikal Bridges added 24. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a triple-double as the Knicks overwhelmed Atlanta on both ends of the floor.
It was more than a series victory. It was the performance that showed New York what it could become when every part of its roster operated together.
Confidence-Fueled Championship Run
McBride was correct about the Knicks becoming nearly impossible to stop.
After eliminating Atlanta, New York swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round and then swept Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks carried an 11-game winning streak into the NBA Finals.
Their only remaining loss came in Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. New York ultimately won the championship in five games, ending the franchise’s 53-year title drought.
Jalen Brunson provided the defining performance, scoring 45 points in the clincher and earning NBA Finals MVP honors. However, the Knicks’ success was never solely about their point guard. Anunoby, Towns, Bridges, Josh Hart and McBride each supplied important contributions throughout the run.
That balance is what made the Game 6 destruction of Atlanta so revealing. The Knicks were not relying on one player to rescue them. They were defending, creating turnovers, sharing the ball and producing from throughout the rotation.
Championship teams often identify one moment when belief turns into certainty. For McBride and the Knicks, it happened after returning from Atlanta and delivering a performance that made the rest of the NBA look beatable.
