It started with just 1.3 seconds left in Game 4, when the outcome was already decided. But the Timberwolves, looking to burn the clock, tossed the ball up to forward Jaden McDaniels. Rather than dribble it out for the end of the game, McDaniels put up an uncontested layup to push Minnesota’s lead to 16 points.
Denver Nuggets All-Star center and NBA Most Valuable Player finalist Nikola Jokić took exception to the layup and rushed over from half court to confront McDaniels, eventually getting in McDaniels’ face.
McDaniels grabbed Jokić by the jersey as the two got tangled up, leading to teammates and assistants getting in between the pair to break it up. The incident took place right in front of the Timberwolves’ bench.
Eventually, both players were separated, and both Jokic and McDaniels were ejected.
“Because he scored when everybody stopped playing,” Jokić said after the game. “Come on, guys, you saw it, what happened.”
Asked later if he regretted running up to confront McDaniels, Jokić shook his head and stressed that he didn’t.
The Timberwolves won the game, 112-96, taking a 3-1 lead over Denver in the first-round playoff series.
“I’m proud of the guys stepping up and fighting for each other, literally and figuratively,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told reporters after the game. “These teams don’t like each other — it’s no secret. I mean, you play each other this many times when things are at stake … it’s just how it goes.
“When you play each other this many times, you’re gonna get these things. You just are.”
The NBA has strict rules about players who are not actively playing in a game leaving the bench area during altercations. Players who do leave the bench are subject to an automatic suspension of at least one game. Fines are also factored into the discipline for leaving the bench.
Initial video of the incident Saturday night showed that Nuggets star forward Aaron Gordon left the bench in an attempt to break it up.
“Obviously, I didn’t like what McDaniels did,” Nuggets coach David Adelman told reporters after the game. “The game was over. The game was conceded both ways. In 2026 that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore. That stuff happened in the ‘80s, where teams would continue to score. But that’s who he is. And so if that’s what they want to do, that’s what they want to do. It has nothing to do with the win or the loss.”
“More importantly, no suspensions for us,” Adelman said. “I didn’t see anything out of line. Obviously, they’ll have the Hawkeye view of the whole thing, but from what I saw, from my standpoint, I saw Jok get into it with (McDaniels) toward the middle of the scrum, and then both guys were ejected.”
The Los Angeles Lakers will have the opportunity to complete a sweep of the Houston Rockets after taking a 3-0 lead in the NBA playoff first-round series.
The Lakers have found success in the postseason without Luka Doncic, who has missed time due to a hamstring injury.
He suffered the injury on April 2 in a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has not played in a game since.
Doncic led the NBA in points per game with 33.5 this season. He was also third with 8.3 assists per game.
The Lakers have not swept a playoff series since beating the Utah Jazz 4-0 in the 2009-10 Western Conference semifinals.
Will Luka Doncic play Game 4 for Lakers?
Doncic was ruled out for Game 4 on Sunday, April 24, by the Lakers. He was with the team in Houston on Friday.
When do Lakers play next?
The Lakers will play the Houston Rockets on Sunday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET). The game will be streamed on Peacock.
Having lost the previous two games to the Atlanta Hawks to go down 2-1 in the series, the Knicks were in must-win territory on Saturday night.
If not, New York would’ve been on the precipice of ending its season prematurely and in danger of wholesale changes rocking the organization after a fourth consecutive postseason that didn’t lead to the NBA Finals.
Instead, the Knicks, with the same starting five head coach Mike Brown has used all season, came out ready and took care of business from beginning to end with a compelling 114-98 win to even up the series and take things back to Madison Square Garden all knotted up.
“I thought we did a great job of coming out with more tenacity, more desperation I think is the proper word and our team did a great job of just weathering the storm and being the ones to initiate physicality today,” said Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns was right at the center of New York’s Game 4 win, recording his fifth career triple-double (first in the playoffs) and leading the team with a playoff career-high 10 assists.
Towns is the fourth player in franchise history to record a triple-double in a playoff game, joining Walt Frazier, Dick McGuire and Josh Hart, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“That’s a great team over there, a very well-coached team so we understood in a pivotal game like tonight we needed to be our best,” Towns said. “I thought we not only met the challenge, but we exceeded the expectation and the moment and that’s what you expect a team that has experience like us do.”
It’s true, the Knicks played one of their better games of the season in Game 4. They limited the Hawks to 65 points through three quarters, had a lead as large as 24 points, held Atlanta to 24.4 percent from deep and kept CJ McCollum in check.
The start of the game was also completely different than Game 3 where the Hawks led by 12 in the first quarter which forced New York to play from behind all night. It was also different from Game 2 where the Knicks saw a big lead disappear in the fourth quarter resulting in a stunning loss.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) works against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half at State Farm Arena. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Hart said after the win that New York gave away both of those games (both one-point losses) and so the urgency on Saturday had to be there from the start. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson thought the way they battled back in Game 3 set the table for the team’s performance in Game 4.
“I think the way we fought back in Game 3 helped us in this game,” Brunson said. “Obviously we didn’t win Game 3 but the way we played in that second half as a team propelled us to play the way we did tonight and we just gotta continue to push that forward.”
Then, of course, comes the topic of the Knicks’ starting five which was ultimately untouched after Brown said it would be a game-time decision.
Mikal Bridges, who had struggled mightily over the last two games, got things going back in the right direction on Saturday but he still only scored eight points on 3-of-4 from the floor and logged just 19 minutes, barely seeing the court in the second half and giving way to Miles McBride.
Brown discussed what went into those decisions after the game.
“We’ve won a lot of games with the starting group and so I didn’t want to panic and just change anything,” he said. “Obviously we changed some stuff strategy-wise, but I didn’t want to change anything with the starting group because I didn’t feel the need to.
“And then at the end of the day I just felt that Deuce had it rolling and they were gonna double Jalen and when they did Deuce hit some big threes so if a guy has it rolling he may have a chance to stay out on the floor, that’s all that was.”
As for Bridges’ impact on the game, Towns credits him for setting the tone early.
“I think everybody was special and honestly shout out to Mikal too, he did a great job of getting us going early and bringing that energy and that spark that was needed,” Towns said. “Who knows where our team would be tonight if it wasn’t for him bringing that kind of spark early in the game.”
This is potentially devastating news for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo each had to leave Game 4 in Minnesota with first-half leg injuries, and neither will return to the game.
DiVincenzo has suffered a torn Achilles, reports Shams Charania of ESPN, which is what it appeared to be when it happened. That injury not only ends this season for him but also sidelines him for most, if not all, of next season. DiVincenzo averaged 14.3 points per game in the playoffs and was 11-of-22 from 3-point range through the first three games.
Edwards is still undergoing tests on his left knee injury, and no diagnosis has been made. He appeared to hyperextend his left knee after he went up to challenge a Cameron Johnson shot at the rim.
Edwards had been playing through a case of what the team described as runner's knee in his right leg, the opposite of the one injured on this play.
Edwards had played in 61 games this season — and did not qualify for postseason awards — due to a variety of injuries. He'd been healthy in the playoffs so far and was averaging 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists a game through the first three games of the series against Denver, leading Minnesota to a 2-1 series lead entering Saturday.
A potentially bad injury day for the Minnesota Timberwolves might have just gotten a lot worse.
All-Star guard Anthony Edwards appeared to suffer a left knee injury Saturday, April 25 late in the second quarter during Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. At the start of the second half, Edwards was not on the floor or on the bench. Later in the third quarter, the Timberwolves ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
The play came with 2:45 left in the first half, when Edwards jumped vertically to defend a Cameron Johnson layup during a fastbreak drive. When Edwards landed, his left knee appeared to hyperextend as his weight came down, and he immediately grabbed at the area, writhing in apparent discomfort. Edwards slapped the court a few times in obvious frustration.
Trainers rushed over as Edwards popped up to his feet. The trainers helped Edwards hobble off the floor, as he did not put any weight on the injured leg.
Edwards had been struggling from the floor, shooting 1-of-8 for just 5 points, adding 3 rebounds. At halftime, the Nuggets held a 54-50 lead, as Minnesota’s bench outscored Denver’s by a margin of 36-10.
Throughout his career, Edwards has been fairly fortunate in avoiding major injuries and has usually been available for Minnesota. In his first five seasons in the NBA, Edwards played in 381 of a possible 400 regular season games. Over that span, he had appeared in at least 72 games each season.
This year, however, Edwards battled a few nagging injuries, namely, knee and elbow issues that limited him to just 61 games played. That prevented him from being eligible for individual awards, and Edwards lost an appeal to receive an exemption.
In 61 games this season, Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points (which ranked third in the NBA behind only Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage (48.9%) and 3-point percentage (39.9%) were also career bests.
In February, he was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star team.
Anthony Edwards hobbled off the court with a left leg injury in the second quarter of Game 4 of the first-round series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Edwards had been playing through a right knee injury, but injured his other knee after an awkward landing trying to challenge a shot from Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson.
The Wolves entered Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead. Minnesota guard Donte DiVincenzo was also injured 90 seconds into the game with a season-ending Achilles injury that has now been confirmed. Minnesota has now lost its two best guards during a golden opportunity at home to put the Nuggets on the brink of elimination.
Update: Edwards has been ruled out for Game 4. He won’t return.
Donte DiVincenzo injury: Wolves guard tears Achilles vs. Nuggets in NBA Playoffs
DiVincenzo has been diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon. He’s out for the series and will miss most or all of next season as he recovers.
Minnesota's Donte DiVincenzo has been diagnosed with a torn right Achilles tendon, sources tell ESPN. His season is over with a lengthy recovery. Devastating blow for the Timberwolves starting guard. pic.twitter.com/fx06g2WXDN
From the opening tip, the Knicks brought a physicality and intensity to Game 4 that they had been lacking all series — and the Hawks could not match it. New York played its best defense of the series, improved its player movement and, more importantly, showed much better intentionality in how it wanted to attack the Atlanta defense. On the other end of the court, Hawks players could not get to the rim, could not finish in transition, while the Knicks were in their element and found their groove.
It all started with the guy the Knicks most needed to have a big game, Karl-Anthony Towns, who posted a 20-point triple-double.
Karl-Anthony Towns' triple-double leads New York to a game 4 victory!
The result was a blowout win for New York, with the game never in doubt from the middle of the third quarter on. A few minutes of garbage time made the final score 114-98, New York.
The series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 back at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Expect these Knicks to show up again at MSG. These were the Knicks we all remember from last year's run to the Eastern Conference Finals. The question becomes, can the Hawks match it?
"Let's go Knicks! Let's go, Knicks!" chants rang out in the State Farm Arena as the Knicks took the lead in the first quarter and never surrendered it. It wasn't just their stars carrying the team, the Knicks got fantastic play from OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, they combined for 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting in the first half. Anunoby went on to finish with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Everything seemed to go right for New York, there was even a Grand Theft Alvarado moment from Jose Alvarado.
Jalen Brunson left the game in the third quarter after tweaking his ankle, went back to the locker room and got it re-taped, then returned to the court. Late in the game, he banged knees with a Hawks player as well. He was a little slowed by all this and had just 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting.
CJ McCollum was the Hawk who handled the pressure best, and he finished the game with 17 points but was 0-of-4 from 3-point range.
Hawks not named McCollum shot just 37% through the first three quarters, and as a team Atlanta was just 7-of-31 (22.6%) with 17 turnovers in those three quarters. Plus, they had zero fast break points.
Quin Snyder and the Hawks can chalk this up to it being "one of those games" and point out that it's now a best-of-three series. They are not wrong.
But when the Knicks bring this intensity again, will the Hawks be able to match it?
Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) tries to reach the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
And the tri-state area expelled a sigh of relief. The New York Knicks (2-2) took control early tonight and never let go, rolling past the Atlanta Hawks, 114–98, in Game Four of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. Behind a dominant, wire-to-wire effort, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded the first triple-double of his postseason career (20-10-10), while OG Anunoby added a 22-point, 10-board double-double. Jalen Brunson dropped 19 points to steady the offense and secure the comfortable, and reassuring, victory.
Showing a marked improvement from Game Three, the Knicks shot well early, converting six of their first nine field goals. Atlanta matched that efficiency at the start, but New York’s wings applied frantic defense that helped the Knicks secure a 15-14 lead at the midway point of the first quarter.
Defying our cries to always play either Brunson or Towns at all times, head coach Mike Brown inserted Jose Alvarado (6 PTS, 3 STL), Miles McBride (11 PTS, 3-6 3PT), Jordan Clarkson (7 PTS), and Mitchell Robinson (6 PTS, 8 RBS, 15 MIN) to play alongside Josh Hart (10 PTS, 9 RBS, 2 STL) at the 4:20 mark. Luckily for him, his stubbornness paid off. Determined to reclaim their glory, our heroes played at a blistering pace and outrebounded the Hawks more than 2-to-1. Credit Brown for wisely deploying Robinson early, and the big fella brought immediate energy and dominance around the rim.
As New York hit the accelerator, Atlanta wilted under the defensive intensity. The Hawks shot just 7-of-20 in the first quarter and missed nine of their 12 three-point attempts. Thanks to a 14-5 run over the final four-and-a-half minutes, the Knicks closed the period ahead 27-20.
To start the second quarter, Brown rolled out a unit featuring Alvarado, Mikal Bridges (8 PTS, 3-4 FG, 19 MIN), Clarkson, Anunoby, and Towns. The Knicks kept the game in high gear, and Alvarado provided instant energy with a three-pointer and then stripping CJ McCollum (17 PTS, 8-15 FG), leading to an easy bucket.
Towns burst with newfound vigor, repeatedly attacking the cup and dominating the Hawks’ frontcourt. Even more impressive, New York’s defensive pressure stayed elevated while their offense hummed. Brunson rested comfortably until the 7:30 mark, with the Knicks ahead 38-29.
After Hart grabbed a defensive rebound off a Jalen Johnson (14 PTS, 3 RBS, 5 ATS) miss, the ball swung around through five or six Knicks before finding Brunson, who swished a triple. It was arguably the best offensive cohesion the Knicks have shown all series, and one of the first times they looked like the championship contenders we were promised by owner James “Eye in the Sky” Dolan (who took in the game at State Farm Arena).
Following a timeout from Hawks coach Quin Snyder, Atlanta’s defense tightened, forcing Brunson, Anunoby, and Hart to lose their handles on consecutive possessions. Both teams committed at least six turnovers in the period and missed several open shots. However, Anunoby answered with back-to-back perimeter triples, and Hart picked Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s (15 PTS, 5-10 3PT, 6 TO) pocket for a fast-break score, pushing their lead to 16 points.
The Knicks fans in attendance shook the building, and they went even crazier when Hart drilled a three with a minute-and-a-half left that put New York up by 16 again. By halftime, the Knicks held a commanding 58-44 lead.
Through the first half, New York outshot Atlanta 51% to 47% from the field and 43% to 26% from three-point range. The Knicks also dominated the boards 24-13, forced a whopping 10 turnovers in the second quarter alone with steals by Hart, Alvarado, Brunson, and Anunoby, and owned the paint 32-24. Atlanta’s defense was solid in forcing 10 giveaways, too, but they managed zero fast-break points in the half. McCollum led all scorers with 14 points, while Anunoby paced the Knicks with 12.
Out of intermission, the feathers were flying. The Birds scored five unanswered points to open the third quarter. Worse, Brunson rolled his ankle and headed to the locker room for examination within the first two minutes. Alvarado replaced him and did admirably, driving the Knicks at a blistering pace, knocking down a three-pointer, and recording his third steal of the game. Rumors of an Atlanta rally were greatly exaggerated!
"Look how he's just lurking."
Another look at Alvarado's sneaky steal that led to OG's tough bucket 🔥
When Towns hit a cutting Clarkson for an assisted bucket, the lead touched 17. Clarkson then knocked down two free throws, and the Knicks tied their largest lead of the playoffs at 19 points. Brunson returned to the bench and then re-entered the game at the 5:38 mark. The ankle appearing just fine, hallelujah, amen.
Atlanta got brief bursts from Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu (12 PTS, 6 RBS), but their shooting remained trash overall. Through three quarters, the Hawks had made just 7-of-31 from three-point range. McCollum, Okongwu, Dyson Daniels (6 PTS, 9 RBS, 6 ASTS, 2 STL), Johnson, and Jonathan Kuminga (10 PTS, 2 RBS) combined to shoot 1-for-18 from beyond the arc. Due to Atlanta’s ineptitude and New York’s sizzling play, the Knicks took a 86-65 lead into the fourth.
Anunoby scored the first four points of the final period with a free throw and a triple, pushing the advantage to 22. Assisting on Anunoby’s three gave Towns his tenth dime of the game, sealing a triple-double, the first of his career in the playoffs.
The lead ballooned to 24, but a Kuminga jumper and a Alexander-Walker three trimmed it back to 18 with eight minutes remaining. Given how freely the Knicks have surrendered leads this series, that margin still felt a little too close for comfort. From there, though, Brunson hit two free throws and McBride drained his second triple of the night, restoring the lead to 23 points. With those points, Brunson passed John Starks to take fourth place on the Knicks’ all-time playoff scoring list with 1,354 points and counting.
There had to be a blemish somewhere. At the seven-minute mark, Towns exited after tweaking his knee. He remained on the bench, which looked like a positive sign. Then, with 4:20 left, Brunson knocked knees wit somebody (Rowan had distracted me, showing off a drum fill he’s working on), and Jalen was still wincing when Brown called timeout shortly after.
From there, with a 22-point lead, Brown emptied the bench, giving time to Alvarado, Tyler Kolek, Landry Shamet, Mohamed Diawara, and Ariel Hukporti. The reserves did a good clean-up job, and when the buzzer buzzed, the better team won, 114-98.
Up Next
Matthew Miranda’s cooking up your recap hot and fresh. Meanwhile, the series swings back to Madison Square Garden for a tilt on Tuesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
Early in Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo appeared to suffer an Achilles injury when he fell to the court on a non-contact play. The Timberwolves ruled DiVincenzo out of the game with a lower leg injury. ESPN is reporting that DiVincenzo suffered a torn right Achilles tendon.
The Injury happened with 10:43 to play in the first quarter, right after DiVincenzo took a deep 3 on the left wing. When the ball bounced off the rim, DiVincenzo lunged to track the ball down, but he fell to the floor and immediately grabbed his right calf area.
DiVincenzo sat on the floor and immediately motioned for Minnesota’s training staff to come to his aid. Once the trainers arrived, DiVincenzo writhed on the floor as the staffers tended to him.
Slow-motion replays later appeared to show his Achilles bounce or snap, which is also a common indicator of ruptures.
DiVincenzo was immediately removed from the game, and the Timberwolves ruled him out shortly afterward. During halftime, ESPN cameras showed DiVincenzo being led in a wheelchair down a hallway in the Target Center, with a large brace around his right leg and foot.
DiVincenzo played all 82 games this season and averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Prior to Game 4, DiVincenzo had been shooting 51.6% in the series.
Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) tries to dribble past Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
On Saturday evening, the Atlanta Hawks hit the floor at home against the New York Knicks with a chance to go up 3-1 in their first round playoff series. Instead, the Hawks turned in their worst performance of the playoffs thus far and dropped the game by a score of 114-98.
This game featured an aggressive start for both teams.
The Knicks came out attacking the basket early in this one, looking to establish Karl-Anthony Towns in the paint with an early dunk on a switch with CJ McCollum. New York also made a concerted effort to get Dyson Daniels off of Jalen Brunson at all costs, resulting in a couple of early jumpers for the Knicks’ star point guard.
Meanwhile, Atlanta saw the first good opening quarter of the series from newly minted Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who buried two triples in the first five minutes of the game.
For a third straight game, this first quarter had an early verbal altercation, this one featuring Atlanta’s Mo Gueye and New York’s Jose Alvarado, who has seemingly been involved in as many skirmishes as he has scored points in this series.
Atlanta’s offense started to stagnate later on in the period, with the Hawks falling down 25-19 after a third made field goal from Brunson.
The Hawks settled for a barrage of contested jumpers in the final few minutes of the period and finished the first quarter just 3/12 from beyond the arc, finding themselves down 27-20 heading into the second.
Atlanta’s offensive struggles continued into the second quarter, with Gabe Vincent’s two triples being one of the only sources of scoring for the Hawks in the first half.
Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns punished the Hawks’ smaller defense the way Knicks fans have been begging him to all series, finally getting to the basket with consistency and scoring some impressive finishes around the rim. New York took a 41-29 lead with an open three from Brunson around midway through the second quarter.
Things would only get worse from there, as the Hawks turned the ball over relentlessly, falling behind 51-35 after OG Anunoby heated up for the second straight game from beyond the arc.
For the Hawks, McCollum started getting into the lane late in the second quarter for some much-needed offense.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, that coincided with Josh Hart hitting some tough shots that Atlanta is typically more than happy to concede, and New York wound up taking a 58-44 lead into the locker room.
Overall, it was a very frustrating first half for the Hawks, with Atlanta seeming to be stuck in mud for large stretches of the game, and with referee Scott “The Extender” Foster falling for a couple of Brunson flops that turned into offensive foul calls on Alexander-Walker.
Atlanta also had 12 turnovers in the first half compared to just 11 assists, which is certainly not a recipe for success on offense.
The Hawks got off to a better offensive start to the second half, taking the ball out of McCollum’s hands and letting others initiate the offense. Atlanta at one point got the lead down to eight early in the third quarter, but the Knicks pushed it back up to 13 thanks to some strong play off the bench from Alvarado, who stepped in when Brunson was forced to exit the game after stepping on Hart’s foot.
Once Brunson got back into the game, the Knicks ran the lead up to 19, with Atlanta’s shooting and turnover woes continuing, and with some of New York’s role players off the bench knocking down contested jumpers.
It was a frustrating night for Jalen Johnson, who at one point was just 3-10 from the field, but he did get the Hawks somewhat back to within shouting distance with an and-one followed by a triple late in the third quarter.
However, the Knicks made another run to close the quarter, and ended up taking their biggest lead of the night, 86-65, into the fourth and final frame.
The Hawks opted to insert Tony Bradley into the game to open up the fourth quarter, and while the big man did a solid job of keeping New York off the offensive glass, it still wasn’t enough to allow Atlanta to make much of a dent in the Knicks’ lead.
Remarkably, Atlanta didn’t score its first fast break points until late in the fourth quarter when the game was already well out of reach.
Both teams emptied their bench with several minutes to go in the game, and the Knicks emerged with a 114-98 win.
McCollum led the way in scoring for Atlanta with 17 points, while New York had a balanced offensive performance, anchored by Anunoby, who had another impressive game by dropping 22.
While some of the Hawks’ lack of success in Game 4 can be chalked up to unfavorable shooting variance, Atlanta will need to do a better job of matching the Knicks’ physicality moving forward in this series, as well as taking care of the ball.
This is now a best of three, with the Knicks having home court advantage. Game 5 is set for Tuesday evening at MSG.
The Knicks evened the series to 2-2 after beating the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4, 114-98, on Saturday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Things started out pretty evenly between both teams in the first six minutes, with neither side able to get a lead of more than four points. After Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were responsible for New York's first nine points, it was nice to see Mikal Bridges, in the starting lineup despite two consecutive poor performances, which included being held scoreless in Game 3, get on the board with a driving layup on his first shot attempt.
Following the midway point of the first quarter, the Knicks closed the frame on a 14-6 run, helped out by players not named Brunson or Towns to open up a seven-point lead headed into the second quarter. OG Anunoby, Bridges and Mitchell Robinson all played a part in the run and were able to get easy buckets down low.
Defensively, New York held Atlanta to 20 points in the first 12 minutes and that defense kept at it in the second quarter as the Hawks struggled to find consistent scoring. Part of that was because the Knicks were outrebounding Atlanta all throughout the first half, grabbing offensive boards that led to second-chance points and not allowing the Hawks to get near the glass themselves.
Sooner or later, New York's lead grew to 16 points following a quick 10-4 spurt that included the Knicks scoring nine points in the span of 70 seconds thanks to back-to-back threes by Anunoby. Josh Hart, also coming off a tough shooting performance in Game 3, came alive to end the first half and scored nine of the Knicks' last 11 points before halftime to put New York up, 58-44, at the break.
After going 1-for-12 for two points collectively in Game 3, Hart and Bridges went 7-for-11 with 17 points in the first half.
-- Determined to make it a game, Atlanta began the second half on a 9-3 run to cut its deficit to eight points. The Knicks, though, countered immediately with an 11-0 run with Towns getting in the mix by dishing the rock. KAT was the biggest facilitator on the night with a playoff career-high 10 assists, the most on the team.
Still, Towns didn't let that stop him from being aggressive on offense as he scored the final seven points of the quarter for New York. His tip-in layup off an offensive rebound with three seconds left in the quarter gave the Knicks an 86-65 lead, their biggest lead of the night. Towns finished with 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting and secured 10 rebounds for his first career playoff triple-double and just the fifth triple-double of his career.
Meanwhile, Anunoby had a double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds) while Hart was rebound shy of a double-double of his own.
-- New York had things all but wrapped up in the fourth quarter and this time didn't let the Hawks come back. Miles McBride came off the bench and scored eight of his 11 points in the final frame, shooting 3-for-6 from downtown. The Knicks as a whole shot 14-for-31 from three-point range and held Atlanta to 10-for-41 from deep, although Nickeil Alexander-Walker did go 5-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Brunson scored 19 points but had six turnovers.
Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns
The big man came up big and did everything in this one by recording his first career playoff triple-double in a must-win sort of game for the Knicks.
The Knicks defeated the Hawks on Saturday to even the series.
ATLANTA — The Knicks said they were playing for their lives.
Then they came out and played like it.
And it wasn’t Jalen Brunson who led the way — this was a shining moment for his supporting cast.
Particularly Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded a triple-double, and OG Anunoby, who had a double-double, as the Knicks cruised to a 114-98 Game 4 win Saturday night at State Farm Arena to even the series at 2-2 heading back to New York.
“I thought we did a great job coming out with more tenacity,” Towns said. “More desperation I think is the proper word.”
Brunson — after Dyson Daniels fell on his left ankle — subbed out and went back to the locker room with 10:29 left in the third quarter and the Knicks leading by nine.
By the time Brunson came back in — with 5:38 left in the third quarter — the Knicks were up by 18.
OG Anunoby reacts during the Knicks’ April 25 win against the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg
Josh Hart, Anunoby, Towns, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado all scored during that stretch.
Towns — who finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists — recorded five of those assists during that third quarter.
It marked Towns’ first triple-double in the playoffs.
He becomes the fourth Knicks player to record a triple-double in the playoffs, joining Walt Frazier, Dick McGuire and Hart.
There was no big comeback or collapse this time around.
No late-game chaos.
It was the most straightforward game — for either side — of the series.
The Knicks nearly led wire to wire — when they took the lead with 6:40 left in the first quarter, they led the rest of the way.
“We understood that in a pivotal game like tonight, we needed to be our best,” Towns said. “I thought we not only met the challenge but we exceeded the expectation in the moment, and that’s what you expect a team that has experience like us to do.”
Jalen Brunson attempts a shot during the Knicks’ April 25 game against the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg
The signs were there early.
Towns faked a shot, instead throwing a no-look pass to a cutting Hart.
Hart kicked it out to Anunoby in the corner, who swung it once more to Brunson for a wide-open 3-pointer.
He drilled it to give the Knicks a 12-point lead, as the Hawks called timeout with 6:54 left in the second quarter.
The wide-open look for Brunson — in addition to the fluid ball movement that created it — has been a rarity this series for the Knicks.
But their movement on offense re-emerged when they needed it most.
Karl-Anthony Towns attempts a shot during the Knicks’ April 25 game against the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg
It helped create a balanced scoring attack.
Anunoby was terrific and finished with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds.
He hit back-to-back 3s in the second quarter as the Knicks began pulling away.
Hart added 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
Mikal Bridges — after coach Mike Brown showed faith in him by leaving him in the starting lineup following his Game 3 benching — recorded eight points.
But Bridges, after subbing out with 7:34 left in the third quarter, was on the bench for the rest of the game.
Brunson finished with 19 points on 7-for-19 shooting from the field along with six turnovers.
“At the end of the day,” Brown said, “that’s why it’s a team game.”
Hart, after another rough shooting start, came alive and scored nine of his 10 points in the second quarter as the Knicks pushed their lead to double digits.
He made a layup, subsequently stripped Nickeil Alexander-Walker as he brought the ball up the court and then dunked to give the Knicks a 16-point lead as the Hawks called timeout with 2:42 left in the first half.
After making another layup with 25.9 seconds left in the half, he pounded his chest and yelled toward the Knicks bench in celebration.
His teammates seemed to feed off it.
It was Hart who energized the Knicks early and set a tone.
“Obviously the sense of urgency was there,” Hart said. “Down 2-1, giving away two games that we should have won. We had that sense of urgency from the jump.”
OG Anunoby blocks a shot during the Knicks’ April 25 win over the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Alvarado — who has surpassed Landry Shamet (who did not play until garbage time) — added a punch off the bench with six points.
Soon after checking in for the first time at the end of the first quarter, he got into a bit of a dustup with Mohamed Gueye and forced Gueye into a technical foul.
The Knicks held the Hawks to 41.5 percent shooting from the field and 24.4 percent from 3-point range.
CJ McCollum, guarded by a variety of Knicks, was still efficient — with 17 points — but did not kill the Knicks like he had the first three games. Jalen Johnson shot just 4-for-12 from the field.
“I think we refocused and understood what was gonna be needed tonight,” Brunson said. “Most importantly, just not being afraid to fail is a mindset we need to have. Go out there, leave it all on the table.”
This was a beatdown on both sides of the floor.
This was the Finals-or-bust Knicks that had previously gone missing.
This is the version that now must not be an anomaly.
But after an apparent injury scare, fans can breathe easier.
In New York’s eventual 114-98 victory Saturday, April 25, All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, New York’s best player and captain, went into the locker room in the third quarter after getting banged up on a loose ball.
During the play, Brunson was getting defended by Hawks guards Dyson Daniels and CJ McCollum. Brunson appeared to tweak his right ankle before going down, but also may have also drawn contact to his head and neck area, as Daniels and McCollum wrapped Brunson up for a jump ball. Daniels also appeared to land on Brunson’s left ankle.
Brunson did take the jump ball, but lost it. Moments later, he asked for a substitution and jogged into the locker room with 10:29 left to play in the period. Brunson did not appear to have any notable limp as he walked down the tunnel.
The Knicks did not issue an immediate update about his status. They were up 58-49 at the time Brunson left the game.
Through 19:49 on the court, Brunson shot 4-of-11 for 10 points, though he had committed 6 turnovers.
Brunson returned to the floor with 6:53 left to play in the period, though he initially remained on the bench; he didn’t appear to have any additional wraps around his ankle.
Brunson checked back into the game with 5:38 left in the third, and continued to play with no apparent limitation.
Midway through the fourth quarter, however, Brunson got banged up once more, when Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu fell backwards and made contact with Brunson’s left knee. He immediately grabbed at it and appeared to be in discomfort, but Brunson stayed in the game.
Finally, with the game out of hand with 3:35 left to play, the Knicks emptied their bench to rest starters, and Brunson sat for the rest of the game.
He finished with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting, adding 3 assists and 1 steal. Brunson also committed 6 turnovers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked every bit the reigning and likely future MVP, dropping 42 on the Suns while shooting 15-of-18 from the floor. That's the most any player has scored so far in the first round of the playoffs.
However, he was not the real difference on Saturday in Phoenix, it was Oklahoma City's depth. The Thunder bench scored 36 points — and that's after Ajay Mitchell moved into the starting lineup and scored 15 of his own — while the Suns' bench had just 12 points. The Suns' effort is there, their heart is there, but these two teams are in very different places.
The Thunder took Game 3 121-109, and now has a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Suns (the Thunder are now 11-0 in the first round over the past three seasons). Game 4 is Monday night in Phoenix, and you can watch it on Peacock. Oklahoma City led the entire second half but could never fully pull away from the Suns. Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 33 points, while Jalen Green added 26. Devin Booker — who had an injury scare with his left ankle in the third quarter and went back to the locker room, only to re-emerge to a huge ovation from the home crowd — finished with 16 points. Booker said postgame he will play in Game 4 and wants the Gilgeous-Alexander defensive assignment.
Alex Caruso had 13 points in this game, while Chet Holmgren had 10 and seven rebounds.
The Thunder were without Jalen Williams, who injured his hamstring in Game 2 and is week-to-week. The Suns were without center Mark Williams (foot) and guard Jordan Goodwin (calf).
This has been the most surprising series of the first round.
Rather than being about what it lacks — no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves for the Lakers, Kevin Durant has played in just one of the three games — it has been about guys stepping up in the biggest moments... or not stepping up.
LeBron James has turned back the clock, taken on the role of the Lakers' primary shot creator and scorer again, and has thrived. Marcus Smart has played like the Defensive Player of the Year version of himself from four years ago. Luke Kennard is showing everyone he is the best shooter in the NBA not named Curry, plus he can do more than just shoot. JJ Redick has silenced his coaching critics, and the Lakers' role players are all being put in good positions and then stepping up.
It's been the opposite in Houston, where, as a team, they are shooting under 40%, their offense just looks clunky, and a frustrated Ime Udoka is calling out his team.
Can the Rockets turn things around at home and extend their season? We're going to find out.
See below for additional information on the Knicks-Hawks game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
How to watch Lakers vs. Rockets, Game 4:
When: Sunday, April 26 Where: Toyota Center, Houston Time: 9:30 p.m. ET Announcing team: Noah Eagle (play by play), Grant Hill (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (courtside reporter) TV: NBC Live Stream: Peacock Series: Lakers lead 3-0
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets game preview
Losing Game 3 was a gut punch for Houston — back at home, they were up six with 28 seconds to play. Then a series of mistakes — two sloppy turnovers and Tari Eason fouling Marcus Smart on a 3-pointer — erased that lead and forced overtime. Where the Rockets lost.
"Horrendous mistakes," was how a frustrated Rockets coach Ime Udoka described it postgame. "I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case. You have a six-point lead with 20 or 30 seconds to go, get a rebound, you just have to hold the ball and get fouled."
How will the Rockets respond to that ugly loss? Like a fighter who just gets mad after taking a punch, or will they fold? The answer to that question will not only impact whether there's a Game 5 in this series, but it could also impact the Houston offseason.
Alperen Sengun leads the Rockets with 24 points and 11.7 rebounds a game, although he has had his struggles on both ends of the court. Amen Thompson is averaging 19.7 points per game, while Jabari Smith Jr. is adding 19.3.
There are a lot of things that have the Lakers holding a commanding 3-0 series lead, but the biggest is that to a man they have fully bought into their coach's system, they are trusting one another and executing, and with that the role players are stepping up.
It also helps to have the timeless LeBron James. At age 41, the guy in the GOAT conversation is adding to his legacy in this series. With the Lakers' two leading scorers and primary shot creators — Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — out, LeBron has stepped up into that role and thrived. He's averaging 25.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. He's lifting everyone else up around him, and despite all the quality individual defenders the Rockets have, they have no answers for LeBron.
Luke Kennard is thriving at 21.3 points per game while shooting 52.9% from 3-point range, and Marcus Smart is adding 20.3 points and 8.3 assists a night.
One big question for Game 4 is health: Kevin Durant remains questionable with a left ankle sprain. He was listed as questionable up until the last minute before Game 3, when he was ruled out. For the Lakers, Austin Reaves also is listed as questionable, but it is less likely he returns for this game.
How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock.
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock's NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds, such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
How to sign up for Peacock:
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