CJ McCollum Scored 32 in the Fourth Quarter and the Knicks' Historic Streak Died at Madison Square Garden

CJ McCollum just reminded the New York Knicks why the Atlanta Hawks brought him in back in January. Down the stretch on Tuesday night at MSG, McCollum took over with 32 points and sparked a fourth-quarter comeback that finished 107-106. The Knicks had never blown a 12-point lead after three quarters in the shot-clock era. Until now. The series is tied 1-1 and shifts to Atlanta on Thursday for Game 3.

McCollum Was Exactly What Atlanta Needed

Hawks coach Quin Snyder wasn't just impressed with McCollum's scoring punch. "I really liked CJ's leadership as much as the shot making," Snyder said. "CJ's leadership was really good with the ball in his hands." This is a different kind of leadership for McCollum, one that balances aggressive shot-making with keeping a young team connected. It's working.

The Knicks had been 40-1 in the postseason since 1954-55 when leading by 12 or more points after three quarters. The only loss came when Reggie Miller dropped 25 in the fourth for Indiana in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals. That was 32 years ago. Tuesday night, history fell.

McCollum Brushed Off the MSG Villain Treatment

Madison Square Garden's crowd turned their fire on McCollum, a role he wasn't exactly expecting. The mild-mannered vet just shrugged. "I ain't no villain, I'm a nice guy with two kids and a wife," McCollum said. "I think it's admiration. Great passionate fans in a really hostile environment. It's fun, it's basketball, it's the playoffs."

New York's Collapse in the Fourth

Jalen Brunson dropped 29 for the Knicks, including 10 of New York's 15 fourth-quarter points. But the rest of the team collapsed. The Knicks shot just 5-for-22 from the floor down the stretch. Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 25 in Game 1, managed only 18 on Tuesday and couldn't buy a bucket in the fourth.

Knicks coach Mike Brown pointed to 14 turnovers that led to 18 Atlanta points and free-throw struggles (17-for-27, 63 percent). "At the end of the day we've got to lock in at the free-throw line, and we've got to take care of the ball," Brown said. Atlanta also won the loose-ball battle, grabbing three of four 50-50 balls in the fourth quarter. That's the kind of desperation that wins close playoff games.

Game 3 tips off Thursday in Atlanta. The Knicks know they have to find a way to win on the road if this series is going anywhere.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.