CJ McCollum Scores 32 and Stuns MSG: Hawks Tie Series With Late Rally Nobody Saw Coming
The Atlanta Hawks just walked into Madison Square Garden and snatched Game 1 right back from the New York Knicks. CJ McCollum led a fourth quarter surge that felt impossible, then nearly impossible again when he missed two free throws with 5.6 seconds left. But here's the thing: the Knicks couldn't capitalize. Mikal Bridges missed a jumper as time expired, and the Hawks escaped with a 107-106 win on Monday night. Series tied at one game each. This is exactly the kind of gut-punch that changes a playoff narrative.
From Down 12 to Dancing on MSG's Floor
The Hawks trailed the entire second half. I mean the entire thing. They were down 12 after three quarters and had no business being in this game late. The Knicks looked like they had it figured out. Karl-Anthony Towns came alive in the third quarter, dropping 14 points in that frame alone after only four in the first half. New York extended the lead to 78-64, and with under five minutes to go, they still had the Hawks down eight.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThen McCollum happened. Atlanta chipped away relentlessly, and McCollum's basket gave the Hawks their first lead of the second half at 101-100 with 2:09 remaining. He made another to push it to three points. Jalen Brunson answered with a three-pointer to tie it up, but McCollum wasn't done. He answered back with another jumper to make it 105-103 with just 33 seconds on the clock. Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points off the bench, and Jalen Johnson added 17, including a crucial bucket with 10 seconds left that pushed the lead to four.
Brunson's 29 Wasn't Enough
Jalen Brunson put up 29 for New York, and Towns finished with 18 after his hot third quarter. The Knicks were trying to reach the second round for a fourth straight season, their longest stretch since 1991-92 to 1999-2000. They had it. They really did. And they let it slip away in 33 seconds.
The Hawks head back to Atlanta with Game 3 on Thursday. This series is wide open now.
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