The New York Knicks closed out their first-round series in dominant fashion on Thursday, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 at State Farm Arena to advance with a 4-2 series win.
The 51-point margin tied for the sixth-largest blowout in NBA playoff history and marked a complete reversal from Atlanta’s Game 3 win just one week earlier.
New York set the tone early with defensive pressure and efficient shot-making, building a lead that stretched to as many as 61 points.
OG Anunoby led the scoring effort with 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, consistently capitalizing on defensive breakdowns.
Mikal Bridges added 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting, while Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense with 17 points and 8 assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, controlling the interior and facilitating ball movement.
The Knicks shot 59% from the field and recorded 33 assists, reflecting strong spacing and execution across all five positions.
Josh Hart added 14 points and 5 rebounds, while the bench provided steady production to maintain intensity throughout the game.
Atlanta struggled to generate consistent offense, shooting 38% from the field and just 26% from beyond the arc.
Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, but lacked consistent support as the deficit grew.
CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 11 points, though both faced heavy defensive pressure and limited clean looks.
The Hawks committed 19 turnovers, which the Knicks converted into transition opportunities, further widening the gap.
New York also controlled the glass with a 46-35 rebounding advantage, limiting second-chance opportunities for Atlanta.
The Knicks’ core group, featuring continuity from previous seasons, consistently created mismatches that Atlanta could not resolve defensively.
Atlanta, which exceeded expectations with a 46-36 regular season, saw its playoff run end after showing flashes of competitiveness earlier in the series.
New York advances to the next round with momentum, having demonstrated efficiency, defensive discipline, and depth in the series-clinching win.
