Jalen Brunson delivered a stellar performance, scoring 34 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 119-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. The victory improved the Knicks to 29-16, while the Hawks fell to 22-20.
Mikal Bridges provided strong support with 26 points, and Josh Hart contributed 14 points, just days after suffering a neck injury in a loss to the Timberwolves.
The Knicks pulled away in the fourth quarter when Brunson scored a crucial backdoor layup and immediately drew a charge on Dyson Daniels. That sequence extended New York’s lead to 107-100 and shifted momentum in their favor.
For the Hawks, Trae Young led the way with 27 points and six assists, but his efforts weren’t enough to keep Atlanta’s three-game winning streak alive. De’Andre Hunter added 22 points off the bench, while Onyeka Okongwu chipped in with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Atlanta kept the game competitive by shooting 47.1% from the field and an impressive 43.3% from three-point range. However, New York’s efficient shooting, hitting 52.2% of their shots, proved too much to overcome.
Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns were key contributors on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds apiece. Towns, playing through a thumb injury that sidelined him for two games, had 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, though he struggled with his shot, going 5-for-18.
Daniels, who leads the league in steals per game, added three more to his tally. Despite this, the Hawks’ defense couldn’t contain Brunson, who shot 12-for-18 from the field, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Off the bench, Miles McBride and Cameron Payne provided valuable minutes for New York, scoring nine and ten points, respectively. The Knicks’ bench outscored Atlanta’s reserves 24-13, giving the team a decisive edge.