Jalen Brunson delivered a postseason masterpiece on Tuesday night, scoring a series-high 39 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 126-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The win gives New York a 3-2 series lead and marks the second consecutive game the Knicks have held Atlanta’s high-powered offense under 100 points.
The Knicks established dominance early, shooting 65 percent in the first quarter to build a 13-point cushion. Brunson was efficient throughout, shooting 65.2 percent from the floor and putting the game away with 17 points in the fourth quarter alone. This performance marked Brunson’s 10th career playoff quarter with 15 or more points, tying him for the third-most in the NBA since 2023.
Defensively, New York remained “on a string,” according to Brunson. The Knicks successfully neutralized Hawks leading scorer CJ McCollum, holding him to just six points. Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby provided crucial interior support, both recording double-doubles to anchor the frontcourt. Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 18 points, but the Hawks struggled to find an offensive rhythm against New York’s physical pressure.
History is now on New York’s side, as teams that win Game 5 in a tied series advance more than 81 percent of the time. The Knicks travel to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday with a chance to clinch the series and advance to the second round.
