By: Manuel Polanco
Despite WWE wrestler Danhausen cursing the New York Knicks during a segment with sports media personality Stephen A Smith, the Knicks sent the Atlanta Hawks packing after a six-game series in the first round of the playoffs.
The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second year in a row.
This series was full of exciting moments like brawls, elite defensive plays, and turnovers. The Knicks came off another successful regular season, winning 53 out of the 82 games, finishing in third place in the Eastern Conference. This was the first year of veteran coach Mike Brown’s tenure in the Big Apple, after the firing of former head coach Tom Thibodeau after five seasons on June 3, 2025.
Starting the first round in their stomping grounds at Madison Square Garden (MSG), the Knicks rallied and won game one 113-102. Knicks superstar and guard, Jalen Brunson, had a great game, finishing his night with 28 points and seven assists. His teammate, Karl Anthony Towns, also ended game one on a high note, scoring 25 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. The Knicks dominated the free-throw line as they outscored Atlanta 25-12.
OG Anunoby, the versatile all-defensive player, had a great game with 18 points, as did teammate Josh Hart, who tallied 11 points with 14 rebounds. This was a triumphant game for the Knicks, and their defensive prowess really shone in game one.
Though still at home, game two was not in the Knicks’ favor, as they lost steam late and blew their lead against the Hawks, tying the series at one apiece. Veteran CJ McCollum scored 32 points in the Hawks’ comeback win, and this game ended in a close score of 107-106. Jonathan Kuminga went off the bench, scoring 19 points, and Jalen Johnson had 17 points. McCollum’s veteran presence was key for the Hawks regular season success and for game two’s comeback.
Hart racked up 15 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists in game two. Brunson netted 29 points, and Towns ended his night with 18 points.
Post game, McCullum told reporters, “It’s a long game. You’ve got to play to zero.”
In game three, McCullum reminded the audience in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena of his status as the Knicks’ top stopper as he rose to the occasion, beating them in Game three via a score of 109-108. He finished his night with 23 points and was integral to the comeback win. In the last seven minutes of play, the Hawks outscored the Knicks 27-12.
The Hawks were in the lead for most of the game, but the Knicks closed the gap quickly and wound up 108-105 with a minute left to play. Johnson had another great game, scoring 24 points. Kuminga was solid off the bench, providing valuable offense with 21 points. In the last couple of seconds of the game, Brunson had the ball but lost control and turned it over, ultimately sealing their loss and putting the Knicks down 2-1.
Game four was a breath of fresh air for the Knicks as Towns notched his first postseason triple- double to pick up the win in Atlanta with 114-98 and tie the series 2-2. Towns had a great game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He became the fourth Knicks player to notch a triple-double in a playoff game, joining teammate Josh Hart as the most recent.
Brunson had 19 points, and by halftime, the Knicks led 68-44. The Knicks’ defense was on full display this game, and they held McCullum to 17 points, Johnson to 14, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to 15 points. By the fourth quarter, the Knicks were leading by as much as 24 points.
Brunson shared postgame, “Obviously, we didn’t win Game 3, but I think the way we played in the second half as a team propelled us to play the way we did tonight,” he said. “We’re trying to continue to push that forward.”
The Knicks were gifted Magic City chicken wings as a postgame victory meal, and they enjoyed their feast. They returned to their home, New York City, for game five.
Game five was played at MSG. The Knicks went up 3-2 in the series and beat the Hawks 126-97. Brunson had a great game, finishing with 39 points, eight assists, and three rebounds. Towns scored 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Jeremy Sochan racked up 10 points in three minutes of play, and Anunoby had 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Knicks’ defense excelled, with each player posting a positive net rating on the court, compared to the Hawks, who had a majority of negative net ratings.
The Knicks traveled back to Atlanta to close out the first round in game six, which was a blowout. By halftime, the Knicks set a record by having the largest lead by halftime, being up 83-36. With 4 minutes and 39 seconds left in the first half, Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels got into an altercation with Mitchell Robinson, and a brawl ensued.
Both players were ejected, and many believe the frustrating deficit might have angered Daniels.
The Knicks, by no surprise, won this game 140-89, a whole 51-point lead!
They advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals for the second year, facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the series.