The Novel York Knicks opened their 2026 Eastern Conference playoff series with a 113-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, powered by a combined 53 points from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns and a defensive shift that stifled Atlanta’s second-half offense.
Brunson ignited the Knicks early, scoring 19 points in the first quarter on efficient shooting, including an early layup off a feed from Towns just 89 seconds in. His aggressiveness set the tone against a Hawks defense that had ranked fourth-best in the NBA since the trade deadline. Though he cooled off later — making just one field goal after the opening frame — Brunson finished with 28 points, nine assists, and only two turnovers in 36 minutes, serving as the offensive catalyst New York needed.
Towns, who had averaged 28.5 points on 63% shooting against Atlanta during the regular season, struggled initially against Onyeka Okongwu’s defense, scoring just five points on 1-for-6 shooting in the first half. But after halftime, he adjusted, using pump-and-drive moves to penetrate the paint, draw fouls, and finish. He too contributed defensively with two blocks and helped hold Atlanta to 41.9% shooting in the second half.
The Knicks’ defensive intensity increased after intermission, holding the Hawks to 32 points over the first 19 minutes of the third quarter — 14 fewer than New York scored in that span — while limiting Atlanta to 37.1% shooting and just 3-of-15 from three-point range. OG Anunoby added 19 points and played elite defense, while Josh Hart contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds, including several key steals that fueled transition opportunities.
For Atlanta, CJ McCollum led the team with 26 points, and Jalen Johnson added 23, but the Hawks lacked offensive consistency against New York’s adjusted schemes. Their inability to sustain runs left them chasing for much of the game after falling behind early.
The victory gave New York a 1-0 series lead and affirmed their identity as a team capable of winning through both offensive execution and defensive discipline. With Game 2 scheduled for Monday at Madison Square Garden, the Hawks will need to adjust their defense to limit Brunson’s early impact and uncover ways to disrupt the Knicks’ pick-and-roll rhythm.
How did Karl-Anthony Towns adjust his game after halftime to overcome early defensive struggles?
Towns shifted from relying on jump shots to using pump-and-drive moves to obtain into the paint, draw fouls, and finish, while also increasing his defensive presence with two blocks.
What defensive change did the Knicks build in the second half that limited the Hawks’ scoring?
The Knicks increased perimeter pressure and reduced doubling on Towns, holding Atlanta to 32 points in the first 19 minutes of the second half, and 37.1% overall shooting.
