Knicks Blow Out Hawks to Tie Series. NY 114 Atlanta 98

April 26, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Josh Hart played with defensive (and offensive) intensity of a madman -- and had 10 pts and 9 rebounds.

The Knicks came out with intensity and physicality that they maintained all night — taking control of the game in the 1st quarter and blowing the Hawks out, 114-98, on an early Saturday evening in Atlanta. The win tied the best-of-7 series at 2 games apiece.

Josh Hart was a man possessed, especially at the end of the 2nd quarter when he pushed the Knick lead to the mid teens with tenacious defense, and drives, and steals, and more drives. Karl-Anthony Towns took it to the rim all night, and passed, and rebounded — for a triple double: 20 pts on 6-10 shooting (1-2 from 3), 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

NY led by 14 at the half, and by 21 entering the 4th quarter. The Knicks led by 20+ throughout much of the 4th until they pulled their starters and Atlanta pulled within 14 in the final minute.

OG Anunoby had another Huge night, with 22 pts on 9-16 shooting (3-6 from 3), 10 rebounds, a steal and a block. Jose Alvarado was a demon off the bench, with steals and orchestration after Jalen Brunson (19 pts, 3-7 from 3) rested after rolling his ankle.

Mitchell Robinson was a beast off the bench (6 pts and 8 rebounds in 15 minutes). Mikal Bridges (8 pts on 3-4 shooting in 19 minutes) played well, although Miles McBride (11 pts on 4-7 shooting, 3-6 from 3) played over him in most of the 2nd half because he was on fire.

The Knicks limited Jonathan Kuminga to 10 pts and 0-6 shooting from 3. CJ McCollum was limted to 17 pts and 0-4 from 3. Jalen Johnson was limited to 14 pts on 4-12 shooting (1-5 from 3).

“There was a sense of urgency there down 2-1. Giving away two games that we should’ve won,” said Josh Hart afterwards. “We had that sense of urgency from the jump and now we have to be ready to have that sense of urgency from the jump in Game 5.”

“I don’t think there’s anything encouraging about it,” added Hart. “I think it was just reinforcing the kind of guys we have in this locker room. We’ve put ourselves in this position and I know the character that we have. We were ready to answer back today and like I said, be ready to build off of it for Game 5.”

The next game is Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

1. Knicks Come Out with Physicality & Intensity — Take Control Late in 1st

After having blundered games 2 and 3 — losing both by 1 point in the final seconds — the Knicks came out with intensity and physicality from the opening bell and maintained that intensity and physicality all night.

NY took a 6-2 lead as Jalen Brunson was on the attack, and Karl-Anthony Towns was taking it to the rack from the get-go.

But Atlanta pushed back — and took the lead at 14-13 on a Nickeil Alexander-Walker 3 — before they started to wilt under the sustained NY pressure.

KAT started finding OG Anunoby underneath for slams; the Knicks were playing frenetic defense; and OG and Mikal Bridges were scoring on the wings.

The 2nd team came in with the same physicality and intensity late in the quarter, with Mitchell Robinson dominating the offensive glass and scoring inside while Jordan Clarkson was scoring outside.

NY took a 27-20 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.

2. KAT Takes It to the Rim — And Feeds Teammates

KAT came back near the beginning of the 2nd quarter and continued his assault on the rim and the smaller Atlanta front line. If KAT wasn’t going to the rim — he was threatening to — then rifling passes to teammates for easy buckets inside or open 3’s.

“Karl Anthony Towns was big from the tip with his offensive rebound for a dunk then a touch in the low post for a drop step dunk,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “And stayed aggressive by not settling rather attacked, got to the line also found the open man, made the extra pass, hit the glass and played with an edge.”

“He’s a special talent,” added OG afterwards about KAT. “He can do it all. I know if I get open, he’ll find me,”

3. Hart a Man Possessed Near End of 2nd Quarter

Meanwhile Jalen Brunson was adding buckets, and then OG Anunoby hit back-to-back 3’s and NY had a 47-33 lead with 3:20 left in the half.

Josh Hart was a madman possessed — especially in the last 3 minutes of the half — making a TOUGH drive against a physical Atlanta defense, then stealing the ball and dunking, and letting out an animal yell. NY led 51-35. Atlanta timeout.

Hart hit a 3 and made another drive before the end of the half — NY went into the lockerroom up 58-44.

4. Alvarado Adds Pest-Like Intensity in 3rd

Atlanta came out of the lockerroom intent to get back in the game on their home court. CJ McCollum got consecutive buckets, Onyeka Okongwu made free throws, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit a 3 to pull the Hawks within 9 at 58-49.

The game went back and forth for a few minutes — Atlanta pulling within 8 — before NY pushed the lead back up led by the pesty Jose Alvarado, who was all over the place. Alvarado snuck up behind McCollum and stole the ball, then fed KAt who fed OG for a drive inside. Next time down Alvarado hit a 3 and NY was back up by 13.

Another look:

KAT kept powering inside, and Jordan Clarkson aided the scoring with buckets in the lane. Brunson hit a pullup, and Miles McBride knocked down a 3 and NY had a 19-pt lead at 77-58 with 4 minutes left in the 3rd.

KAT kept finding OG underneath for dunks, and then popped a 3 from 30 feet. A KAT bucket inside gave NY an 86-65 lead entering the 4th.

5. NY Leads by 21 Entering 4th — Maintains Blowout

And in the 4th, it was all Knicks. They didn’t let up their intensity. OG hit a 3 off a KAT pass, Mitchell Robinson came in and grabbed another offensive rebound and putback, sandwiched by a pair of McBride 3’s, and NY pushed their lead to 23 pts with 6 minutes left, 101-78.

NY led 109-86 with 3:42 let when Atlanta emptied their bench, which the Knicks did as well 10 seconds later. Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti and the 3rd team came in to get some playoff burn.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401869391

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