Brunson Dominates Early; KAT Dominates Late. Defense All Night. NY 113 Atlanta 102

April 19, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
KAT dominated in the 2nd half, and finished with 25 pts, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and excellent defense.

Jalen Brunson dominated early, Karl-Anthony Towns dominated late, and Knick Defense dominated all night as NY beat Atlanta 113-102 on a late Saturday afternoon to take 1 of their Best-of-5, 1st-round playoff series.

NY pushed their lead to 19 pts with 4:36 left in the game before an 11-0 Atlanta run cut the lead to 8 pts with 1:39 left. But KAT scored inside off a Mikal Bridges pass to clinch it.

The Knicks pulled out to an 11-pt lead early in the 2nd quarter, only for Atlanta to pull right back into it with the 3 ball and scoring by CJ McCollum. NY led by 2 at the half, then pulled back out to a double-digit lead late in the 3rd quarter on the scoring of KAT. The Knick 2nd team pushed the lead further in the 4th quarter, with scoring by Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson (8 pts).

Through it all OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges were tremendous. Bridges played terrific defense and an efficient brand of basketball on offense (11 pts on 5-9 shooting). OG had 18 pts on 6-9 shooting with 8 rebounds. Josh Hart played hounding defense and had 10 pts and 14 rebounds.

Brunson finished with 28 pts on 9-22 shooting (3-4 from 3) with 7 assists. and KAT had 25 pts on 6-13 shooting (3-4 from 3 and 10-10 in free throws). Mitchell Robinson was a terror defensively in the 15 minutes he played (4 rebounds, 2 blocks) — Atlanta went to the foul-a-Mitch strategy in the 3rd quarter and he went 1-4 from the free throw line. That strategy helped keep Mitch off the floor but Atlanta got into team foul trouble and NY increased their lead in the 3rd with extra free throws.

At an Electric Madison Square Garden.

“It always feels special walking into MSG. I pinch myself every time I walk in,” said coach Mike Brown. “You can feel the energy of the fans. You can feel the energy of the building. You can feel the energy of the fans even outside. It’s definitely different.”

1. Brunson Comes Out on FIRE

Jalen Brunson came out ON FIRE — hitting every shot he took. In fact he was 6-6 from the floor with three 3’s before finally missing a pullup with 4 minutes left in the 1st quarter.

Brunson finished the period with 2 more consecutive Knick buckets for 19 pts on 8-10 shooting (3-3 from 3) and a 30-24 Knick lead.

2. NY 2nd Team Pushed NY Lead to 11 Early in 2nd

The Knick 2nd team came pushed the lead at the start of the 2nd quarter.

Mitchell Robinson was a defensive demon — blocking a Nickeil Alexander-Walker drive, and then a CJ McCollum drive on the next possession.

On offense, Landry Shamet hit a 3 to start the quarter, and Jordan Clarkson scored off an offensive rebound and NY had an 11-pt lead at 35-24.

3. McCollum & Atlanta 3’s Get them Right Back In It

The Knicks — and Mikal Bridges in particular — were playing Tight defense on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who killed the Knicks the last time the two teams met in the regular season, 2 weeks ago. NY was playing a tough defense in general but CJ McCollum kept breaking free and hitting 3’s.

Onyeka Okongwu hit a 3 and a deuce, Jonathan Kuminga came off the bench to get a bucket, and Alexander-Walker and McCollum hit a couple of 3’s and just like that Atlanta was back within 2 at 46-44 with 5 minutes left in the period.

4. NY Leads by 2 at the Half

A McCollum deuce tied the score — but NY went back to work — buckets by KAT and Brunson regaining a 5-pt lead for NY.

KAT had been quiet to this point — but started to take it to the rim.

“You like seeing this from Karl Anthony Towns here,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Catches in triple threat, use of a shot fake, doesn’t settle here, no wasted dribbles then punishes the rim. Put your defender at your mercy and don’t bail them out. Also, got himself to the line, found the open man and hit the glass.”

An Okongu 3 at the buzzer pulled Atlanta within 2 at the half — 57-55 NY.

5. KAT Dominates in 3rd

KAT continued total aggression in the 3rd, hitting 3’s and putting head down and driving to the bucket for scores or free throws.

Consecutive 3’s by KAT and OG early in the period put NY up 64-58.

6. Atlanta Fouls-a-Mitch — Causes Knick Free Throws Late in 3rd

NY led 70-63 when Atlanta went to the hack-a-Mitch strategy. Mitch missed the first but made the 2nd of 2 free throws with 5 minutes left to put NY up 71-63 as the crowd at MSG Roared.

But Mitch missed both free throws when Atlanta purposely fouled him on the next possession — and NY took him out of the game.

But those fouls helped put Atlanta over the limit early — and the Knicks benefitted — with Jalen Brunson drawing 2 fouls in the next few minutes, and making all 4 free throws, and KAT also getting fouled near the end of the quarter and making both free throws for an 81-74 Knick lead.

Afterwards, Atlanta coach Quinn Snyder complained a bit about the free throw discrepancy in the game. NY was 25-30 from the free throw line; Atlanta was 12-19.

An OG dunk off a Brunson feed with 35 seconds left in the 3rd put NY up 83-74 entering the 4th.

7. KAT & NY’s 2nd Team Pushes Lead to 19 in 4th

Jonathan Kominga hurt the Knicks early in the 4th with back-to-back buckets (one a drive-and-1) — but a Mitchell Robinson dunk inside off a Clarkson pass, and consecutive 3’s by Miles McBride pushed NY’s lead lead back to 10.

Alexander-Walker broke free for a 3 — but OG responded with a deuce.

And soon KAT was back and — and immediately hit a 3 then Took it to the Rim for a drive-and-1 a minute later for a 13-pt Knick lead.

KAT was dominant on Offense, on the Boards, and on Defense — blocking shots and slapping away drives.

Jordan Clarkson was getting Buckets too.

A KAT 3 put NY up by 19 with 4:36 left, at 106-87. Atlanta timeout.

8. Atlanta Furious Late Run Way Short

But it’s never easy.

Atlanta scored 11 straight points on Jalen Johnson free throws, an Okongwu 3, a Jalen Johnson 3, and an Alexander-Walker 3 while shots for the Knicks were rolling in and out — and just like that Atlanta pulled within 8 at 106-98 with 1:46 left.

Brunson missed a pullup and Atlanta came down with a chance to pull within 5 with a minute left — but Jalen Johnson missed a 3.

Down the other end, KAT scored inside off a Bridges assist for a 10-pt Knick lead with 47 seconds left.

Alexander-Walker scored to pull Atlanta within 8 again — but with 40 seconds left they were forced to foul and Josh Hart hit 2 free throws.

McCollum broke free for an easy layup down the other end on a miscommunication between Knick defenders to pull Atlanta within 8 again — but Brunson hit free throws and that was it.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401869189

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*