Mike Brown reflected on a narrow 109-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Thursday, April 23, where CJ McCollum delivered a late jumper to seal Game 3 of the first-round series.
Atlanta now holds a 2-1 series lead after another tight finish decided in the final seconds.
“But we definitely had our chances. I like the fight that our guys showed. I like the resiliency that our guys showed. We were down a couple of times by 18, 16 points and our guys continued to fight to give us a chance down the stretch. So it was a great fight in the second half,” Brown said.
The Knicks coach pointed to defensive breakdowns that shifted momentum, especially in key possessions.
“They shook the most a little bit in transition and on the offensive glass, had a couple of big offensive rebounds that helped keep the lead or help them stay right where they need to stay to pull a tight game out,” Brown said.
He added that the margin of error was slim in a possession-heavy finish between both teams.
“Both teams were sloppy. We had 16 turnovers,” Brown noted, highlighting execution issues in a one-point game.
On the final offensive sequence, Brown explained the intended setup for the Knicks’ closing action.
“We actually got a switch that we weren’t thinking we’d get in terms of a matchup on Jalen and we cleared the side of the floor for him. That’s what we wanted to do. We wanted to bring him to the top of the floor and clear that right side of the floor because that’s where he’s comfortable.”
Brown also addressed rotation choices, including limited second-half minutes for Mikal Bridges.
“I’m not concerned about him. Again, the way the game was being played and different runs that we made and the different combinations I threw out there, I just went with what I felt the game called for at that time.”
He emphasized ongoing adjustments as part of postseason coaching responsibility.
“That’s what my job is. To keep searching. That’s what we had to do tonight,” Brown said, referencing lineup changes in response to Atlanta’s defensive pressure.
On shooting opportunities and officiating, Brown noted Atlanta’s aggressive closeouts and physicality.
“They’re closing out hard,” he said. “When they close out hard, we got to drive the basketball.”
He also pointed to free throw disparity in a close game, stressing finishing and decision-making at the rim.
Brown framed the loss within a broader playoff context, keeping focus on the series structure.
“It’s a seven-game series. Stuff’s going to happen. Plenty of teams have been down 2-0,” he said, referencing past comebacks as the Knicks prepare for Game 4.
