CJ McCollum Turned Madison Square Garden Into a Nightmare and the Knicks Still Can't Get Out
The Hawks just walked into MSG and tied this series up at 1-1, and if you watched the final minutes you know exactly who to blame it on. CJ McCollum was absolutely unguardable down the stretch, mixing defensive schemes, hitting clutch buckets, and doing what visiting players dream about at the Garden: making the home crowd sweat.
McCollum Was Everywhere When It Mattered
McCollum wasn't just dropping points either. He got a breakaway slam that had the arena quiet. He used his shiftiness for an and-1 that got the Hawks momentum. Late in the game when the Knicks needed stops, McCollum found ways to create offense that the New York defense couldn't account for. He mixed up Jalen Brunson on one possession and got a basket. That's the kind of individual brilliance that wins road games in the playoffs.
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Brunson did his thing, hitting a crucial three to keep it tied. Mikal Bridges even got a shot off at the buzzer, but it didn't fall. Mitchell Robinson threw down a two-handed jam, and Josh Hart had his own explosive moment. But when the Hawks needed a bucket, McCollum found a way. When Atlanta needed a stop, the Knicks couldn't generate one.
Now this series heads back to Atlanta with all the momentum on the Hawks' side. McCollum made sure of that.
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