Knicks Historically CRUSH Hawks to Take Series, 4-2. NY 140 Atlanta 89

May 1, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Mitchell Robinson had a +29 in 9 minutes. He got into an altercation with Dyson Daniels when Atlanta's frustration boiled over with NY up 72-22; both were ejected. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks CRUSHED the Hawks in a historical fashion — going on a 71-16 run early in the game to set blowout records in winning 140-89 in Atlanta on a Thursday night, taking the series 4 games to 2.

  • The Knicks led 50-15.
  • The Knicks led 60-19.
  • The Knicks led 72-22.
  • The Knicks led 83-36 at the half — the 47-pt difference a new NBA playoff record for lead at the half.
  • The Knicks led 99-38 at one point in the 3rd — the 61-pt lead a new NBA playoff record.
  • The Knicks led 117-74 after 3 quarters — the 53-pt difference a new NBA playoff record for lead after 3 quarters.
  • The Knicks coasted with a 50+ lead throughout the 4th quarter — at no point did Atlanta even get it down into the 40’s.

NY’s intense DEFENSE unglued Atlanta causing turnover after turnover, and the Knicks eviscerated them on offense with pinpoint passing, fastbreaks, inside buckets, and 3’s.

  • OG Anunoby was amazing — he had 26 pts at halftime and finished with 29 pts on 11-14 shooting (4-6 from 3). He was everywhere on defense — stealing the ball repeatedly — and offense — popping 3’s and driving to the basket for power moves.
  • Mikal Bridges was BACK — slashing to the basket for quick drives, splashing 3’s and playing tenacious D — he had 24 pts on 10-12 shooting.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns dominated even though he only took 4 shots — going 1-4 but 10-10 from the free throw line for 12 pts, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals and a block.
  • Jalen Brunson only needed to score 12 pts; Josh Hart — questionable before the game with back soreness — played and played great — 14 pts.
  • Mitchell Robinson dominated off the bench — then got into a fight with Dyson Daniels who elbowed him in the ribs on the free throw line showing frustration that Atlanta was having, down by 72-22 at the time. Both players were ejected. Still Robinson had a +29 in 9 minutes!

The Knicks 3rd team played the 4th; everyone on the Knick roster made the scoring column.

“I give my entire staff — Chris Jent, Brendan O’Connor, Rick Brunson, Darren Erman, Ricky Foy, TJ Saint, Mo Cheeks, Mark Bryant, Chuck Allen, Jordan Brink, Joe,  Peter Patton, Billy Ryan, I could go on and on and on about the guys that carried me and I’m the one sitting up here”,” said coach Mike Brown afterwards. “Those guys were phenomenal, getting us prepared for the series and they were phenomenal throughout the course of the series. So I take my hat off not only to the players but to my entire coaching staff including the video room and the performance group.”

NY now waits the winner of the Boston-Philly series, which is tied at 3-3.

1. Knicks Go on 71-16 Run Starting 3 Minutes Into Game

Atlanta took a 9-5 lead on a Nickeil Alexander-Walker 3 with 9:15 left in the 1st quarter when the onslaught began.

OG hit a jumper, the Knick defense started to buckle down, Mikal Bridges made a swift drive off an OG assist, and OG hit a 3 and the Knicks started to build momentum.

The Knick defense amped up causing turnover after turnover and missed Atlanta shot after missed Atlanta shot. NY capitalized on everything — they were greyhounds, scoring on breaks, on drives, on pullups, and on 3’s.

If there was one standout Knick star — it was OG Anunoby, who was everywhere on offense and defense.

“OG Anunoby tweet in 2020 below,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Also, OG plays with a purpose, moves with a purpose, defends hard the entire possession making you earn everything, rebounds, shooting with confidence, attacking close outs all while using his strength and always playing for the name in the front.”

2. Knicks Lead 72-22 When Dyson Hits Robinson with Elbow

Mitchell Robinson was dominating Atlanta inside with offensive rebounds and alley oop slams.

NY was up 72-22 when Atlanta’s frustration boiled over — Dyson Daniels hitting Mitchell Robinson with an elbow in the rib cage on the free throw line — sparking an altercation.

The refs ruled a foul on Robinson for using his elbow to box out Daniels, but they initially missed Daniels’ elbow which preceded it — as shown here.

Both players received technicals and were ejected. Afterwards, Robinson posted this on his Instagram account:

3. Knicks Lead 83-36 at Half

The altercation did not soften the Knicks — they kept bringing it, and had a 47-pt halftime lead.

4. Knicks Lead by 61 Pts in the 3rd

NY did not relent after the halftime break — instead they pushed the lead to new levels — going up by 61 pts midway through the 3rd.

5. The 3rd Team Plays the 4th

The +/- numbers for the Knick starters were insane — everyone with a +35 to +42.

The Knick second team — Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson, Mitch — all played around 10 minutes each.

That was because the Knicks emptied the bench for the 4th — with Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, Mohammed Diawara, Jeremy Sochan, Landry Shamet, and all the reserves coming in. Everyone had at least 2 pts.

NY maintained a 50+ pt lead throughout the 4th for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401869393

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