Bridges Misses at Buzzer. Knicks Blow It. Atlanta 107 NY 106

April 22, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Mikal Bridges had 10 pts on 3-10 shooting but missed the game-winner at the buzzer.

Mikal Bridges missed a jumper from the left side off a fast break at the buzzer that could have won the game — instead the Knicks blundered and blew the game to Atlanta, 107-106 at a stunned Madison Square Garden on a Monday night.

The loss evened the best-of-5 series at 1 game apiece.

The Knicks seemed in control of the game all night until the final minutes. They had a 14-pt lead in the 3rd quarter and led by 8 pts with 5 minutes left. But they got sloppy on defense with some breakdowns in the final minutes, and Atlanta stole the game with some 3’s and a great shooting night from CJ McCollum especially. Jonathan Kuminga also killed NY off Atlanta’s bench with steals and athletic drives all night.

NY had no timeout left for the final play — and afterwards, Knick fans looked back on a timeout that coach Mike Brown called with 2:45 left while Jalen Brunson was driving to the basket for a seeming bucket as ill planned and infuriating.

Besides the final shot, Mikal Bridges also missed several key 3’s in the 4th and scored 10 pts on 3-10 shooting.

NY also missed 10 free throws on the night, going 17-27, with OG Anunoby going 4-8 and missing a couple of important ones in the 4th when NY still had a slim lead. The Knick reserve guards, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Jose Alvarado — shot a combined 0-7 from the floor.

The Knick starters (sans Bridges) excelled — with Jalen Brunson scoring 29 pts to lead the team. Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 pts. Mitchell Robinson was NY’s leading scorer early — finishing with 13 pts on 6-6 shooting. Josh Hart was terrific in all aspects — 15 pts, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and a steal — except he didn’t knock down his 3, going 1-5 from there.

The Knicks seemed to be the better team all night — but lost.

“This is a game we should’ve won. In the playoffs you can’t give away games,” said Josh Hart afterwards.

“We were a little stagnant,” said Jalen Brunson afterwards about NY’s play in the 4th quarter. “I have a saying – I can control what I can control. Poor decision making on my part. We’ve got to play better with the lead. That’s twice in the 4th quarter we’ve done that.”

The series now shifts to Atlanta for games 3 and 4.

1. Mitch Beasts Early as NY Goes Up 32-23 After 1

The Knicks started off well with Karl-Anthony Towns taking it to Atlanta inside, and Jalen Brunson, OG, and Mikal Bridges attacking from outside.

Mitchell Robinson entered the game and immediately got an offensive rebound and tip-back. NY then started going to him for alley-oop slams against Atlanta’s small front line of Jalen Johnson (6’8″) and Onyeka Okongwu (6’10”). First OG fed him for one, then Brunson.

NY took a 32-23 lead after 1 quarter.

2. NY Keeps Alexander-Walker Under Wraps But McCollum Kills Them

NY also kept Nickeil Alexander-Walker under wraps for the 2nd straight game. He had 9 pts on 3-12 shooting on the night. NY kept Jalen Johnson under wraps as well.

But CJ McCollum killed NY all night — with 32 pts on 12-22 shooting. He kept Atlanta in the game.

3. Knicks Lead 61-54 at the Half

The Knicks led by 7 at the half — 61-54; it would have been more if not for CJ McCollum‘s shooting.

4. Knicks Lead by 14 Pts in the 3rd

NY commanded the 3rd quarter — leading by 14 pts several times and having opportunities to go up 17 with 3’s that rimmed out.

This seemed like it was going to be a win for NY.

5. Kuminga & McCollum Kill NY in 4th; Atlanta Outscores NY 28-15

But in the 4th quarter the Knicks got sloppy, and Jonathan Kuminga — the athletic 6’7 forward who has championship experience with Golden State, came off the bench and torched the Knicks. He and McCullum carried Atlanta back — outscoring NY 28-15 in the period.

“Tweeted below on Jonathan Kuminga back in 2021,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Jonathan was huge with his effort, activity , his motor along with playing his role but also knowing that role all while utilizing his big time athleticism and strength along with bringing his hardhat.”

The Timeout that Should Not Have Been Called

With 2:45 left, Mike Brown called a timeout just as Brunson was driving ahead of the field for an apparent bucket. That timeout would prove costly — not only because it appeared he ‘iced’ Brunson, but the Knicks needed it on the final play.

On the timeout he called with 2:45 left, coach Mike Brown said, “A couple of possessions weren’t fluid so I wanted to make sure we had something we wanted to get to.”

Atlanta Takes It at the End

In the final few minutes, CJ McCollum hit big shots to put Atlanta ahead.

And then Nickeil Alexander-Walker came up with a huge steal leading to a Jalen Johnson slam and seemingly the ballgame — Atlanta going up by 4 pts with 10 seconds left.

Brunson Hits HUGE 3; McCollum Misses 2 Free Throws

But Brunson came down and hit a HUGE 3 to pull NY within a point.

NY fouled McCollum intentionally with 7 seconds left — and he MISSED BOTH FREE THROWS.

That gave NY the ball with 7 seconds left — Brunson fed Hart up court — who fed Bridges on the left side — and he stopped and popped from 15 feet out on the left side with a second left — and missed.

The Final Mistakes

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401869387

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