The Atlanta Hawks outscored the Knicks by 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a 15-6 run through the final 4:46, to steal Game 2 and stun New York for Monday's 107-106 upset at MSG.
"I think we just kept competing," Quin Snyder said of Atlanta's comeback. "Over the course of a game, if you don't let up and you don't give into that, you have an opportunity to have more success late if you just kind of hang in there. We know they're such a good team, and they're so hard to guard offensively.
"I think our guys understand that, when they do score, you just can't get discouraged. You just need to keep trying to raise your level. We had a hard time on the defensive glass. Those plays can really be deflating. But I thought we responded to those as well. We never quite figured it out, but we dug in in other aspects of the game."
After CJ McCollum's two missed free throws with five seconds left in the fourth quarter, Josh Hart's rebound and pass to Mikal Bridges gave the Knicks a chance at the horn but came up short.
"The reality of it is it's why these things are seven-game series," said Mike Brown. "You've got to keep taking it one possession, one quarter, one game at a time. Atlanta did what they wanted to do -- they came in here, they took one from us at home and, in my opinion, you've got to be able to win on the road if you expect to get where you want to go to. For us, we've got to win on the road."
The Knicks commanded a 32-23 first quarter, entered halftime up 61-54 and held a largest lead of 80-66 at the third quarter's 6:15 mark after Karl-Anthony Towns' tip-in layup.
"This was a game we should've won and, in the playoffs, you can't give away games," said Hart, whose 15-point, 13-rebound double-double went to waste. "So, we've all got to make sure we all locked in watching film of it, get better and go in and battle for Game 3."
Starting with Thursday's 7 p.m. Game 3, the third-seeded Knicks' first-round series heads to Atlanta with new life for the sixth-seeded Hawks. The best-of-seven set remains in Atlanta for Saturday's 6 p.m. Game 4 before returning to MSG next Tuesday.
"We've been in this situation before," Hart said. "Obviously, everyone is frustrated with this loss and we're going to go into Game 3 with great attention to detail and a great focus for a full 48. We've got high-character guys who respond well."
Max Muncy, left, celebrates with Miguel Rojas after hitting a home run in the second inning of the Dodgers' 12-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. Rojas homered on the next at-bat. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
The Dodgers escaped the House of Mile High Horrors, salvaging a split against the less-talented Colorado Rockies despite playing the coldest game in franchise history, reliever Blake Treinen getting hit in the head by a batted ball during batting practice.
And most significantly, reporting Monday that star closer Edwin Díaz will have surgery to remove “loose bodies” in his right elbow, likely sidelining him for three months.
But the fourth and final game at Coors Field was more normal, more like it. More like the Dodgers, who dominated, 12-3.
They piled up 15 hits, five of them home runs and scored in every inning but the first and fifth.
Among the Dodgers’ many highlights: Miguel Rojas pumping his fists running to first base after smacking his 1,000th hit through the hole to left field in the same ballpark where he got his first hit in 2014.
“Not many people could have thought that I was going to have an opportunity to play this long in the game,” said Rojas, who lost his father, Miguel “Micky” Rojas Sr., to a heart attack earlier this month.
“I never let anybody put a ceiling on top of my head,” added Rojas, who went three for three to push his career hits total to 1,001. “I kept going through those ceilings that they put above me. It was all about taking that label away from my head, that I was a defensive replacement guy, defensive-first guy. ‘He can’t hit, he’s just gonna play shortstop...' That's why 1,000 hits for me means a lot.”
Miguel Rojas celebrates after hitting a home run for the Dodgers in the second inning Monday against the Rockies. (Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
A power surge also electrified the crowd of 27,261, another pro-Dodgers assembly.
The Dodgers (16-6) hit back-to-back home runs for the first time this season. Those came in the second inning, when Nos. 6 and 7 hitters Max Muncy and Rojas — who Roberts flipped in the lineup just before the game — hit solo shots to put their team in front, 2-1.
Muncy added another long ball in the ninth, yanking his eighth home run of the season 397 feet into the left field to make it 10-2 — and career multi-homer game No. 22, as well as No. 5 at Coors Field and No. 3 this season.
And then there was Dalton Rushing, who got in the lineup at first base instead of catching, playing solidly in the field in place of Freddie Freeman — and continuing to smolder at the plate, hitting his sixth and seventh home runs in just his 26th and 27th at-bats this season.
Rushing’s 385-foot blast to left field and Teoscar Hernández’s RBI single made it 9-1 in the eighth. And Rushing’s two-run, 421-foot bomb in the ninth made it 12-2 and gave him his second career multi-home run game.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani rounds third base on his way to scoring in the third inning against the Rockies on Monday. Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 52 games. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
Oh, and Shohei Ohtani. He extended his consecutive on-base streak to 52 with a single to right in the third, when the Dodgers pushed the lead to 4-1. That moved him within one game of Shawn Green’s mark, which is second all time among Dodgers. Ohtani also stole his first base of the season.
“It’s a tremendous streak,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s hard to get on base — certainly when everyone’s trying to target you. This streak is one of the great ones.”
The Rockies (9-14) even contributed to the Dodgers’ cause, with three errors and an ill-timed balk on starter José Quintana that not only erased a double play but brought home Muncy to make it 5-1 in the fourth.
On the mound, starter Justin Wrobleski shut down a Rockies team that just scored a combined 13 runs on their two wins against the Dodgers.
Working quickly, Wrobleski pitched seven innings, worked in a splitter for the first time this season and yielded eight hits but just one run. That came before he got his first out, when Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle opened with consecutive doubles.
Dodgers starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski delivers during the first inning against the Rockies on Monday night. (Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
After that, sharp defensive plays by Rushing and second baseman Santiago Espinal got the Dodgers out of the first inning. The Rockies didn’t threaten again against Wrobleski until the fifth, when they put runners on the corners with one out but couldn’t score.
The 25-year-old Wrobleski has given up just two runs in 20 innings through three starts — all wins — this season.
“I'm going out there trying to do the same thing every time, and that's fill the zone and create contact and see what happens,” a gracious Wrobleski said. “So, yeah, I think we've done a great job. Will's done a great job back there calling it. The defense has been really good. The analytics people, with the positioning of everybody, really good.”
The Rockies’ only other runs came on TJ Rumfield’s 440-foot home run in the eighth, and in the ninth, when they scored one run on Jake Eder, the reliever who made his Dodgers debut after being called up in place of Díaz.
DENVER –– What’s the best way for the Dodgers to work around an elbow injury to closer Edwin Díaz?
How about by building leads so big, they don’t even have a save situation come the ninth inning.
That’s what happened Monday in a 12-3 blowout of the Colorado Rockies, helping the Dodgers salvage a four-game series split at Coors Field after suffering losses the previous two days.
Justin Wrobleski got the start on the mound against the Rockies. AP
Before the game, all the attention was on Díaz, who the team announced is undergoing elbow surgery this week to remove loose bodies that had caused his early-season velocity to dip.
In his absence, manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers (16-6) will go closer-by-committee when it comes to ninth-inning save situations. For one night, however, he didn’t have to make such a decision.
Instead, the lineup built an insurmountable lead, bludgeoning veteran left-hander José Quintana for six runs in his start en route to scoring in all but two innings overall.
“I think we needed to bounce back,” veteran infielder Miguel Rojas said, “especially after the last couple days.”
The onslaught began with back-to-back second-inning home runs from Max Muncy and Rojas, propelling that duo to a combined 7-for-7 performance from the Nos. 6-7 spots that was punctuated by another Muncy homer in the ninth.
Max Muncy rounds the bases after smacking a home run. AP
Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 52 games, reaching base three times on a single and two walks.
Dalton Rushing also belted his sixth and seventh home runs of the season, putting him stunningly one off the National League lead (for which Muncy is tied with eight) despite having just 27 at-bats all year.
All of that meant, once the Dodgers finally turned things over to the bullpen, relievers Edgardo Henriquez and newly-recalled Jake Eder didn’t face anything close to stress.
By that point, the team had already long pulled away.
For one night, at least, Díaz was not missed.
Miguel Rojas celebrates his home run while rounding the bases. Getty Images
What it means
Splitting a four-game set with the rebuilding Rockies (9-14) will go down as a disappointing result for the Dodgers.
Still, by winning on Monday, they avoided what would’ve been their first series defeat to Colorado since 2022 –– improving to 12-0-4 in their last 16 meetings against their NL West division foe.
“We had two games in the middle where we missed some opportunities,” Muncy said. “But overall I thought we played pretty good. I think the team’s in a great spot.”
This season, the Dodgers have dropped just one of their first seven series, remaining unbeaten since the Cleveland Guardians took two of three from them during the opening homestand.
Who’s hot
Rojas’ second-inning blast might have been his first home run of the season. But it was not his most meaningful swing of the night.
That came in the fourth, when he lined a single to left field for the 1,000th hit of his 13-year career.
The accomplishment was not lost on Rojas, who pumped his fists and looked to the skies as he trotted up the first-base line. The Dodgers made sure to get the ball returned to the visiting dugout, too, where Roberts playfully pretended to throw it in the stands.
“Not many people could have thought that I was going to have an opportunity to play this long in the game,” said Rojas, who at 37 years old is planning to retire after this year.
But, he added, “I never let anybody put a ceiling on top of my head. I kept going through those ceilings that they put above me. It was all about taking that label away from my head, that I was a defensive replacement guy, defensive-first guy. ‘He can’t hit. he’s just gonna play shortstop. He’s here because of his defense.’ That’s why 1,000 hits for me means a lot.”
By night’s end, Rojas had hit No. 1,001, as well, finishing 3-for-3 –– in addition to dropping down a run-scoring sacrifice bunt –– to continue what has been a strong start to his final season. In 13 games, he is now batting .382 with a .950 OPS.
Who’s not
The Rockies’ defense, which did not help the team’s cause on an embarrassingly ugly night.
The club committed three errors and two that directly led to runs, including a seemingly routine grounder to third baseman Kyle Karros in the third inning that spun away from him to aid a two-run rally.
There was also a costly balk in the fourth from Quintana –– who appeared to have escaped a bases-loaded jam on a lineout double-play from Ohtani, only for the third base umpire to rule he had twitched before the pitch, forcing in another score as the Dodgers pulled away.
Up next
The Dodgers were headed to the airport postgame to catch a flight to San Francisco, where they will begin their first series of the season against the rival Giants on Tuesday night. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 2.10 ERA) will face Landon Roupp (3-1, 2.38 ERA) in the opener.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 20: Starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A dozen runs was more than enough with the way Justin Wrobleski pitched, but the Dodgers decided to err on the side of caution with one of their most complete offensive efforts of the year, running away with a 12-3 win in Colorado. It’s been an unusually productive early start to the season against left-handed pitchers for Max Muncy—that’s how the scoring got started for the Dodgers, with the veteran third baseman going deep for the third time this season against a southpaw, already only one short of his season total in 2025.
When Wrobleski pitched eight scoreless innings against the Mets last week, it felt unlikely that he would find those heights once again in his next start, and to a great extent, he was just as impressive against the Rockies. One run in the first on a Brenton Doyle RBI double would be all that Wrobleski would allow in seven innings with just three strikeouts and no walks. Colorado managed their fair share of hits against Wrobleski, but the southpaw elevated his game with runners in scoring position, allowing just 2 hits in nine opportunities.
The Rockies didn’t have a lot of time leading this one, as Muncy and Miguel Rojas went back-to-back in the second inning to help the Dodgers take a lead they’d maintain for the rest of this game.
Due to certain key absences, the Dodgers had a lineup that was as specifically designed to mash a left-hander as this team could put out, with Alex Call, Santiago Espinal, and Rojas all getting starts. It paid off as that trio combined for five of the Dodgers’ first ten hits. Rojas, in particular, stole the spotlight by reaching his 1,000th career hit with a single in the fourth.
Producing enough offense on their own to control this game, the Dodgers also experienced a helping hand from the Rockies multiple times. First, the Rockies misplayed a routine ground ball in the third, preventing them from completing a double play—instead, Will Smith reached on an error, a run scored, and quickly thereafter, one more came across on a Teoscar Hernández double play to make it a 4-1 game.
Only an inning later, it was the starter’s turn to screw up. Quintana found himself facing the humongous challenge of an at-bat against Shohei Ohtani with the bases loaded, and then he induced what appeared to be a double play ball, but not before a balk moved every runner over. Ohtani would eventually ground out again, and Alex Call didn’t capitalize on the opportunity, but they kept on coming.
In the sixth, after Quintana had left the game, it was a bases-loaded walk from Call to make it 6-1. It didn’t matter that Los Angeles stranded three runners in that frame because in the seventh, one more came across on a Miguel Rojas bunt that resulted in a pitching error. In the late innings, the ball began flying out once again, with Muncy going deep for the second time and Dalton Rushing hitting a couple of homers to take his season tally to seven.
It’s wild to consider that this could’ve been an even bigger slugfest for a Dodgers team that went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position—one whose four of the five home runs were all solo shots, with hitters sixth through seventh going 11 for 17.
Game particulars
Home runs— 2 Max Muncy (8), Miguel Rojas (1), 2 Dalton Rushing (7), T.J. Rumfield (3)
Continuing a road trip that marks first visits to familiar ballparks, the Dodgers will return to California to face the Giants at Oracle Park. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who’s hitting on all cylinders, will take on the youngster Landen Roupp, coming off a terrific start in Cincinnati. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. PT.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks over Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers rode their three best players (Mitchell, Mobley, and Harden) for 83 points to take a 2-0 series lead over the Toronto Raptors.
Let’s go over today’s winners, because there were no losers.
WINNER – BAGcourt
It was somewhere between Donovan Mitchell’s second windmill gather and James Harden’s third step-back jumper of the game that I realized how lucky Cavs fans are to be watching a backcourt with this level of technical craft.
The Raptors altered their defensive approach from Game 1. Rather than earnestly trying to defend Mitchell or Harden individually, they opted to send multiple defenders and apply maximum pressure on the ball. That had benefits, as it partially took the rock out of the guard’s hands and put pressure on other Cavaliers to make plays.
If only it were that easy to take Mitchell and Harden off the board.
Sure, the Raps could win a possession every once in a while. But the sheer scoring ability of Mitchell and Harden made it impossible for Toronto to contain them. The Cavs guards hit shot after shot, often times launching it over multiple defenders and finding the bottom of the basket anyway.
“I still go crazy sometimes wanting him [Mitchell] to pass the ball, and then he hits a crazy shot,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game. “There’s a couple of times where Don has it in iso, and the defense is crashing, so he just throws it to James.”
Harden isn’t overly bothered by physicality at the point of attack. He has a bulky enough frame to withstand punishment and dish it back out. Meanwhile, Mitchell is too much of a blur to keep boxed up. He might run into a wall at times — but resetting the offense and attacking again ensured he’d find an opening on the second attempt.
The Cavs starting backcourt has combined for 112 points through the first two games of this series. If you’re thinking that’s too much to withstand, you’re correct.
WINNER – Defending Ingram
Playoff basketball grants you the opportunity to zero in on an opponent more than you can during the frenzied 82-game schedule of the regular season. That’s proven to be bad news for Brandon Ingram so far in this series.
The Cavs have entered the series with a plan to keep Ingram from beating them. They’ve sicked Dean Wade on him to match his length, and are top-locking Ingram with the dual bigs of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley to deter throwing him the ball over the top. This has mostly stripped away any chance of getting Ingram into his sweet spots — and everyone on Cleveland has done a fantastic job of getting into Ingram’s chest and pushing him away from the action.
And that’s before you even get to his shot attempts.
This is Brandon Ingram's shot chart, and this is Ingram's 4 shots within the restricted area.
Was Ingram's lack of free-throws a lack of fouls called, a lack of aggressive or a Cavaliers defense that forced him off his spots and away from the rim? https://t.co/S26fyN9S7apic.twitter.com/BZRJO8JeEv
Cleveland’s worked relentlessly to stop Ingram from putting up a shot. As a result, he only took one field goal attempt in the second half of Game 1. But even when Ingram was able to fire away, the Cavs were draped all over him, ensuring it would be a difficult attempt. That was on full display tonight as BI finished with 7 points on 3-15 shooting. He also had 5 turnovers.
There’s only so much you can do to take away a 6’8” shot-maker like Ingram. But so far, the Cavs have done as well as you can.
LOSER – Bench Support
This game might have looked different if the Cavalier bench had been more present. They were kept dormant for most of the night, shooting a combined 3-16 going into the fourth quarter. Only Sam Merrill, Max Strus, and Dennis Schroder had bought a bucket. None of them had more than one field goal between the three of them.
As a result, Cleveland’s bench was being outscored 35-8 through the first three quarters. That’s a big enough disparity to keep Toronto in the game despite the Cavaliers leading the entire way.
We know this bench is capable of more. Strus himself put up 24 points in Game 1, while Merrill, Tyson, and Ellis have all had big games previously. Even Schroder is crafty enough to get to the basket more frequently than he did tonight.
A pair of triples from Merrill and Tyson to start the fourth quarter delivered a wave of relief. Later, Strus would join them with a three-pointer of his own. In just three possessions, they more than doubled the bench’s total output. That was enough for me to finally breathe out.
Still, earlier support from anyone on the second unit could have put this game out of reach long before the fourth quarter.
WINNER – Evan Mobley
Now this is the version of Evan Mobley that can help Cleveland win a championship.
I don’t think we need to dump the ball to Mobley and ask him to play like a proto-guard or modern wing. He’s proven to be most effective (and comfortable) as a play finisher. If James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are on the team setting him up, then I don’t see why this is a problem.
Mobley scored 25 points on 11-13 shooting. He routinely buried smaller defenders under the basket and used his athleticism to leap over the top for alley-oop finishes. The Raptors had an impossible task of containing Cleveland’s backcourt without sacrificing their backline of defense. That gave Mobley free rein to dominate.
“He’s in a phenomenal place physically, and then mentally, confidence-wise, he’s in a great flow,” said Atkinson after the game. “You look at the box score, and it’s like man, he’s 11-13 for 25 points.”
All the while, Mobley gave the Raptors no salvation on the other end of the floor. It’s difficult to navigate a DPOY-caliber talent like Mobley when he’s patrolling the paint and ignoring some of Toronto’s non-shooters. He’s able to roam the floor and deter the Raps from settling into a groove offensively.
Apr 20, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Dominic Canzone (8) runs the bases after hitting a solo-home run against the Athletics during the second inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
NHL hits leader Yakov Trenin had to go to the dressing room after absorbing a massive hit on Monday, April 20.
The Minnesota Wild forward had just received a pass as he skated up ice when the Dallas Stars' Colin Blackwell stepped into him with a clean hit and sent him flying. Trenin was down on the ice for several minutes as trainers came out to tend to him and hold a towel to his face.
He eventually got up and started skating off the ice with assistance, then by himself.
Trenin was the NHL's leader in hits during the regular season with 413. He had 13 hits in Game 1, a 6-1 Minnesota rout.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks (1-1) had this one in their hands—until they didn’t. Up eight with under six minutes to play and in control most of the night, New York fell apart down the stretch, getting outscored 28-15 in a grisly fourth-quarter collapse. A string of empty trips, an impressive performance by CJ McCollum, and a late sequence of missed opportunities flipped what looked like a guaranteed win into a 107-106 loss. Rather than heading to Atlanta (1-1) with a commanding lead, they’ll carry this choke job with them when they face the Hawks in Game Three on Thursday.
Both teams brought extra defensive intensity to start the game. Karl-Anthony Towns (18 PTS, 8 RBS) and Dyson Daniels (6 PTS, 2 STL, -15) took turns blocking shots, and Jalen Johnson (17 PTS, 8 RBS) coughed up an early turnover. Towns, Josh Hart (15 PTS, 13 RBS), and Mikal Bridges (10 PTS, 3-10 FG) got buckets to get our heroes cooking. Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu (15 PTS, 8 RBS) contributed for the Birds, but the offense never quite found rhythm.
On one sequence, OG Anunoby (14 PTS, 8 RBS, 2 STL) jumped a passing lane for a steal, leading to a transition three from Jalen Brunson (29 PTS, 7 AST, 10-26 FG) to make it 15-9 and force Quin Snyder to call a timeout.
Hart was a steady engine, while Brunson worked his way through a slow start, missing five of his first seven shots. For Atlanta, Daniels and CJ McCollum (32 PTS, 12-22 FG) contributed, but Johnson’s two turnovers and uneven execution stalled any momentum.
Late in the frame, the chippiness of the game boiled over. Mitchell Robinson, in for Towns, steamrolled Daniels on a screen, and while the Hawk was on the floor, Robinson walked the length of him. The Aussie took exception, and some shoving ensued. The refs reviewed it and assessed a technical on Mitch for taunting.
New York controlled the period by owning the paint and the glass, outscoring their foes 20-6 in the paint and outrebounding them 15-4. The Hawks hit 50% of their threes but failed to generate second chances, while the Knicks distributed the ball cleanly, with 10 assists on 13 makes. With Bridges scoring eight points, New York led by 11 before finishing the quarter up, 32-23.
Atlanta made its push with the second unit. With their reserves on the floor, New York lost the lead, allowing a 13-2 run that was capped by a Jonathan Kuminga pick-six.
Order returned to the universe at last when the starters came back. Brunson steadied things with a floater and a pull-up three, and Anunoby added a key three to stretch the lead again. Late in the half, McCollum kept Atlanta close with a string of tough shots, including another three and a driving bucket. New York had a response each time, though.
After Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9 PTS) blocked Brunson on a late-quarter drive, Cap inbounded the ball to Bridges, who swished it as the clock expired to give the home team a 61-54 lead at halftime.
Through the half, the Hawks shot it better from three (44% to 29%), but the Knicks doubled them in the paint (32-16) and ruled the glass (25-13 rebounds). As in the first game, KAT was quiet in the first half, scoring just four points on three shots. For Atlanta, Johnson was equally stymied, scoring four points on 0-of-4 shooting. McCollum led all scorers with 18, while Brunson had 11 for the good guys.
New York seized control right out of halftime with a quick burst. Josh Hart hit a three, Karl-Anthony Towns followed with one of his own, and the ’Bockers dominated the glass with a string of offensive rebounds and putbacks. After OG Anunoby dunked a Jalen Brunson feed, the lead stretched to 14 and had Atlanta reeling.
Hart and Bridges were doing a number on Johnson and Walker, respectively, limiting them to a combined 5-of-18 shooting through three quarters and five turnovers. The Hawks’ offense mostly fizzled, save for McCollum, who was carrying the team on his veteran shoulders. He pieced together a small run with a layup, free throws, and a floater—and mixed it up with Jose Alvarado, with their close talking earning them offsetting techs. With all the starters now in double digits and Towns clicking with the offense (scoring 11 of his 18 points in Q3), New York took a 91-79 advantage into the final frame. The Garden was rocking.
Atlanta kicked off the quarter with buckets from Corey Kispert and Onyeka Okongwu, prompting a timeout from Mike Brown. Timely hoops from Jordan Clarkson and OG Anunoby gave the hosts some breathing room, but the visitors chipped the deficit to four as Jalen Johnson finally got involved. When Jalen Brunson hit two free throws and a short floater, the Knicks were back up eight with five-and-a-half minutes left.
Jonathan Kuminga gave the Hawks life, leading a 12-4 run with help from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Johnson. Meanwhile, New York clung to a one-point lead after misses from Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Brunson. Mikal Bridges, who couldn’t buy a bucket in the second half, picked off a CJ McCollum pass to preserve that slim lead, and Brown called another timeout with 2:43 on the clock. At that point, Atlanta had outscored New York 20-9 in the quarter.
When McCollum went high off the glass to get his shot over Towns, his layup gave Atlanta a 101-100 lead with two minutes to go. At the other end, Anunoby missed two free throws. McCollum followed with a floater to push the lead to three, but Captain Clutch answered with a three to tie it with 1:21 left.
A Hart deflection brought the crowd to its feet, but Brunson missed a midrange look, and McCollum struck again. Brunson missed another jumper, leading to Johnson sprinting the floor for a dunk that felt like a backbreaker. With 10 seconds left, New York trailed by four.
Out of a timeout, Brunson created space and buried a three with nine seconds remaining, making it a one-point game.
Hart fouled McCollum with six seconds left, and he missed both free throws. Hart secured the rebound and pushed to Bridges, but Bridges hesitated near the arc, unsure of the situation, and settled for a rushed 12-footer that missed. There was time to attack the rim. Mike Brown could’ve called a timeout. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. That gross sequence capped a brutal 28-15 fourth-quarter collapse and a game that had been in hand through most of the night. Yuck.
Apr 20, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) throws to first base in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
We’ve all had that moment when we’ve spotted an open parking space, only to loop around and realize someone else slid into it before you got there. Thursday night’s Tampa Bay Rays game against the Cincinnati Reds had a similar feeling. Every time the Rays looked like they had an opening, Cincinnati beat them to it with a timely swing, a key defensive play, or a mistake Tampa Bay could not get ahead of.
In the end, the Reds had handed the Rays a 6-1 loss, and the frustrating part was not that Tampa Bay never had a chance. It was that they had a few. A pretty good one in the first inning, especially. A couple more scattered later. But the baseball gods are not especially generous to teams that waste baserunners, and the Rays spent most of this game learning that lesson the hard way.
Jesse Scholtens got TJ Friedl to flyout to start the night, but then Matt McLain doubled and Elly De La Cruz moved him over to third with a groundout. That brought up Sal Stewart, who did exactly what hitters should do when you give them a pitch across the center of the plate. He sent a two-run homer out to center, and just like that the Rays were playing from behind before the bottom of the first even arrived.
To their credit, the Rays came out swinging in the bottom half. Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero singled. Jonathan Aranda walked and the bases were loaded, nobody out. These are the moments when fans turn to other fans and say something along the lines of, “Alright, here we go.”
And then the Rays scored just one run.
Yandy Díaz drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Simpson and cut the Reds lead to 2-1, which was helpful, sure, but also felt like leaving a buffet with one dinner roll and an appetite. Jake Fraley struck out. Cedric Mullins struck out. Nick Fortes grounded into a force play. Bases loaded, no outs, one run. That was the first big opening, and probably the biggest one, and the Rays let it pass right by.
The second inning was quieter, although Taylor Walls did provide one of the more exciting defensive highlights of the night with a diving stop on Tyler Stephenson’s grounder. Unfortunately, the Rays followed that nice moment with a quick bottom half, and the game settled into an uncomfortable rhythm. Tampa Bay would make a play, maybe get a man on, hint at something, and then Cincinnati would slam the door before anything could really develop.
The third inning was when De La Cruz started making his presence known for the Rays.
After Friedl doubled again, the Reds got another chance, and De La Cruz made sure it counted. His two-out RBI single to right scored Friedl and stretched the lead to 3-1. That alone stung, but the rest of the inning and the bottom half added a little extra irritation, because De La Cruz kept popping up in the middle of things. In the bottom of the third, Caminero hit a grounder that looked like it had some potential, only for De La Cruz to make a diving stop and throw him out. A few pitches later, Yandy Díaz grounded into a double play, and another inning disappeared.
Elly De La Cruz couldn't stop smiling after he robbed Junior Caminero of a hit.
That was really the shape of the middle innings. Jake Fraley doubled in the fourth and made it to third with one out, but the Rays could not bring him home. Chandler Simpson singled in the fifth, and again nothing came of it.
Then came the sixth, and that was where frustrating turned into self-inflicted.
Sal Stewart popped out to start the inning, but Eugenio Suárez singled and Spencer Steer was hit by a pitch. One out, two on, game still technically within reach. Then Tyler Stephenson hit a ground ball to Caminero at third. In that situation, with the lead runner there for the taking, the play is in front of you before the ball is even hit.
Instead, Caminero threw to first.
Junior Caminero forgets the amount of outs and throws it to 1st instead of going for the double play
Yes, it got an out. No, it was not the right out. Suárez moved to third, Steer moved to second, and the Reds suddenly had two runners in scoring position with two outs instead of a much cleaner situation. Moments later, Rece Hinds lined a two-run double to left, and the score jumped to 5-1. That decision mattered, and the Reds cashed it in immediately.
That, at least, brought the one good moment of the night for Tampa Bay.
With the inning still going, the Rays turned to Trevor Martin for his major league debut. Not exactly the easiest welcome package. A real game, real trouble, and a chance to keep things from getting uglier.
Martin mostly did that. He got out of the sixth, then came back in the seventh and struck out McLain for his first major league punchout, which was an easy moment to enjoy in an otherwise frustrating game. He also delivered a wild pitch later in the inning that allowed a run to score, so it was not a spotless debut. Still, he gave the Rays a decent first look at a pitcher making his debut under less-than-ideal circumstances. It did not change the outcome, but it did give Tampa Bay at least one small positive to take out of the night.
Trevor Martin’s father had never flown on a plane before. He was waiting until the fall for Trevor and his fiancé Hanna’s wedding to take that first trip airborne. His son’s call up forced his hand. Michael boarded a flight from Oklahoma to Tampa this morning to catch Trevor’s… pic.twitter.com/Y5OEsJNAEU
The Rays went quietly in the eighth, apart from an Aranda walk. There was a small push in the ninth when Jake Fraley walked, Richie Palacios singled, and Walls drew a walk to load things up a bit with two outs, but Chandler Simpson lined out to first to end it with another opening, another closed window.
With the loss, the Rays drop to 4-9 against NL Central teams to start the season, compared to 8-1 against AL teams. They might be happy when the schedule shifts away from the division.
First, they still have two more games to finish this series, as they try again tomorrow, with LHP Steven Matz scheduled to start for the Rays, opposite RHP Chase Burns for the Reds, at 6:40 pm.
Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) controls the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) during the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks found a way to pry victory from the jaws of defeat and tie up their series with the New York Knicks on Monday evening, stealing Game 2 at Madison Square Garden by a score of 107-106 in what was one of the most improbable wins of the season.
The Hawks got off to a sluggish start to this game, putting just 23 points on the board in an eventful first quarter.
Jalen Johnson struggled to get to the rim early on against the perimeter defense of Josh Hart, having the ball ripped away from him multiple times and not getting into the paint with any consistency. The Knicks also played continued strong defense on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who only got one shot attempt up in the first frame, a wild fallaway floater.
Multiple video reviews occurred in the early portion of this game, both of which involved Hawks guard Dyson Daniels. On one play, Daniels’ unintentional shot to the head of Jalen Brunson was ruled not to be a flagrant foul, while later on, he got into an altercation with Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson after the center walked over him following an illegal screen. Robinson earned a technical foul for the play.
The first quarter also saw the Hawks playoff debut of Tony Bradley, which did not exactly go according to plan, as Robinson got to the rim multiple times on lob opportunities.
The only positive on offense for Atlanta was the play of Onyeka Okongwu, who continued playing well in this series with a couple of triples in the first quarter.
Early on in the second quarter, the Hawks came out with much improved energy, taking advantage of Karl-Anthony Towns and Brunson both being on the bench by opening the frame on an 11-3 run, capitalizing on some New York miscues in the process.
Notably, Quin Snyder opted to go with Corey Kispert instead of Zaccharie Risacher to open up the second frame, and the 2026 trade acquisition responded by playing some serviceable defense and spacing the floor on the other end.
The Hawks ended up taking their first lead of the night thanks to a Jonathan Kuminga slam in transition.
Unfortunately, they wouldn’t hold onto the lead for long, as New York got back into the driver’s seat throughout the quarter, thanks in large part to the Hawks’ inability to secure defensive rebounds, which was thought by many to be a potential Achilles heel for Atlanta heading into this series.
One positive sign for the Hawks was Nickeil Alexander-Walker getting loose for his first triple of the game, taking advantage of a mismatch with Brunson and shooting right over the smaller guard.
Johnson’s quiet night continued throughout the second frame, although he was able to tie the game at 48 with a couple of free throws with just under three minutes to go until halftime.
The hero of the first half for Atlanta was CJ McCollum, who in many ways replicated his strong start to Game 1 by pouring in an efficient 21 points to keep the Hawks within shouting distance, an effort also helped by the fact that Towns scored just four points before the break.
The Knicks ended up taking a 61-54 lead into the locker room thanks to a tough push shot from Mikal Bridges at the first half buzzer, capping a frustrating end to the second quarter. Snyder also had some real frustration with the officiating crew down the stretch of the half, with New York seeming to be consistently rewarded for embellishing contact.
Although Johnson finally got some offense going early in the third quarter, the Hawks were unable to get stops on the other end, with Josh Hart and Towns both knocking down triples to open up the period.
Okongwu ended up picking up his fourth foul on a highly questionable call on Brunson, which forced the Hawks to put Mo Gueye into the game earlier than expected, leading to more second-chance points for the Knicks. New York ended up taking a 14-point lead about midway through the frame.
With the Knicks continuing to trap him in the halfcourt, Johnson looked to get out in transition in order to find easier scoring opportunities.
McCollum later picked up a technical foul, along with his former New Orleans Pelicans teammate Jose Alvarado, after the two got into a verbal altercation, which got the Knicks fans even more engaged in the game.
New York wound up taking a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter, 91-79.
The Hawks got off to a strong start to the fourth thanks to Knicks coach Mike Brown’s inexplicable decision to once again leave Brunson and Towns on the bench together, which backfired just as it did in the first half.
Kuminga continued to play well off the bench, cutting into the lead with a difficult and-one finish.
Atlanta sliced the lead to four on a tough layup from Johnson over the outstretched hands of Towns.
While the Knicks briefly pushed the lead back to eight, the Hawks got it back down to one with a layup from Kuminga, a three from NAW, followed by another layup from Johnson.
With things heading into crunch time, McCollum took over down the stretch, scoring on three possessions in isolations against Brunson in the final couple of minutes to give the Hawks a shocking three-point lead.
However, the Knicks weren’t dead yet, as Brunson hit a quick three to put the pressure back on Atlanta, up by just one point with seven seconds to go.
The Hawks got the hot man, McCollum, to the line, but he shockingly missed both, giving New York a chance to win.
Instead of calling for time, Brown opted to let the Knicks run, with Mikal Bridges getting a clean look from the baseline at the buzzer.
However, the shot came up short, and the Hawks escaped New York City with a 107-106, stealing home court advantage in the process.
While McCollum will get the majority of the headlines, the Hawks’ defense was also wildly impressive down the stretch of this game, holding the Knicks to just 15 points in the fourth quarter, a complete 180 from their inability to get stops in the game between the two teams a couple of weeks ago.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during round one Game two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers grinded out a sometimes ugly 115-105 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Much of that success was due to their defense and how they shut down forward Brandon Ingram, thanks in part to the services of Dean Wade. Toronto’s leading scorer was held to just seven points on 3-15 shooting.
Afterward, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković acknowledged that he liked Ingram’s aggressiveness and that they need him to keep shooting if they’re going to get back into the series. “I got absolute support for him. He’s going to make his shots.”
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But then, when asked about Ingram just before his postgame press conference ended, he decided to bring up one more thing related to Ingram’s struggles.
“Cleveland is playing with a lot of physicality,” Rajaković said. “They’re very prideful of their physicality, and their whole team was very, very physical with Brandon. So far me, it’s very interesting that he had zero free throws in this game. That’s kind of like, very interesting. Seeing zero takes, zero makes, it’s interesting.”
Rajaković wasn’t alone in feeling this way. Toronto forward RJ Barrett didn’t want to outright criticize the officials. Instead, he chose his words wisely when asked about his coach’s comments.
“I don’t know what to say on that one without getting fined,” Barrett said. “I’m not going to say anything.”
Then, he relented.
“Physicality or not, something has to be a foul at some point.”
The final free-throw totals wouldn’t necessarily back up these claims. Toronto took 17 free throws while the Cavs took 22. That’s a disparity, but not an overwhelming one.
Still, it is interesting that the Raptors have pointed to the Cavs’ physicality as being a factor in this series, considering that it has previously been an issue for this team. We’ll see how this storyline develops — particularly in terms of Ingram’s struggles — as the series shifts to Toronto for Game 3.
The Knicks blew a largest lead of 14 points and were outscored by the Hawks, 28-15, in the fourth quarter of a 107-106 Game 2 loss Monday night at MSG.
Takeaways
Initially, New York's depth showed. Mike Brown's rotation work in 10 players and netted six double-figure scorers. Chief among them, off the bench, Mitchell Robinson dropped 11 of his 13 points in the first half. Robinson, who added six first-half rebounds, asserted himself in the early action while Karl-Anthony Towns took time to get going. All five of the Knicks' starters ultimately performed -- until late -- taking the load off of Jalen Brunson and Towns until they respectively hit their strides, but Robinson's initial dominance was especially key.
A do-it-all effort by Josh Hart showed up on both ends, especially in the first quarter when the Knicks needed a boost. Hart's 15-point, 13-rebound double-double is the type of performance that takes New York to a different level when Brunson and Towns are contained. As mentioned, the Knicks' co-stars collectively found their way when they came alive in the third and fourth quarters. Hart's first-half surge -- like Robinson, Hart was already in double figures with 10 points while adding seven rebounds and four assists -- is a difference-making effort when the opposition briefly contains Brunson and Towns.
Speaking of Towns, he struggled to come through in the first half with only four points on just three shots. Give Towns credit for his aggressiveness in the third quarter. With the Knicks holding a 61-54 halftime lead after Mikal Bridges' buzzer-beating jumper, Towns' 14 third-quarter points helped push New York's 91-79 advantage entering the game's final 12 minutes. The Knicks would have liked more from Towns in the fourth quarter, though, where he was held scoreless.
His running mate, Brunson, willed the Knicks with a team-high 29 points. Those included a game-tying trey, 103-103, with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter and a last-ditch effort to keep the Knicks alive after a triple at the eight-second mark. On 10-of-26 shooting, though, Brunson had his misses. He needed more around him late. Bridges' attempt at the game-winning shot missed after CJ McCollum's two rare missed free throws with five seconds left.
Who's the MVP?
McCollum. Despite his inability to put the game on ice in the final seconds, he scored a game-high 32 points that allowed the Hawks to storm back, challenge New York in crunch time and ultimately steal Game 2.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors during round one Game two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
30 points, 5 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal
This was another dynamic scoring game from Mitchell. He opened the night with a handful of ridiculous jumpers, including a one-legged fadeaway at the end of the shot clock.
Mitchell continued to apply pressure to Toronto’s defense as the game went on. The Raptors did their best to show additional help and get the ball out of his hands. But Mitchell was still able to deal significant damage despite seeing multiple defenders on every other possession.
Grade: A+
James Harden
28 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 steals
Harden drilled a tough step-back three-pointer over a Raptors double-team in the second quarter, and that wasn’t even his most impressive shot of the period. One possession later, he dropped Scottie Barnes and nailed another three-pointer.
His mastery of the pick-and-roll put the Cavs in front during Game 1. In Game 2, Harden’s elite shot-making neutralized even the best of Toronto’s defense.
Grade: A+
Evan Mobley
25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Mobley might be ascending before our eyes. He’s playing with the most confidence we’ve seen from him in a playoff setting. He feasted in the paint any time the Raptors fed him a smaller wing. And when they tried to stick a larger player like Mamu on him, Mobley would burst around him for a bucket.
“Aggressive, put his head down and got to the rim, trying to dunk on people,” said James Harden of Mobley after the game. “He recognized that ‘hey, they’re switching pick-and-rolls so I gotta get it, or crash the offensive rebounds’.”
This is the version of Mobley that can help the Cavs reach their ultimate ceiling. Head-hunting for mismatches and filling in as a play-finisher to complement his two star guards.
Grade: A+
Jarrett Allen
10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks
The box score isn’t always going to reflect Allen’s impact as the games are dominated by Harden, Mitchell and Mobley. Still, while I think Allen’s value was much larger than the stats suggest, this wasn’t his best performance. Specifically, on the glass, where Allen had just 1 rebound going into halftime and finished with 3 boards overall.
This is a team sport, obviously, and the Cavs were not getting bruised on the boards by any means. But this is still an area you want Allen to be more present — considering how poorly this category has gone for him in the past.
But don’t get it wrong. Allen’s size advantage in the paint has proven to be a massive issue for the Raptors as they struggle to establish themselves on either end of the floor.
Grade: C
Dean Wade
3 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Wade’s showing his worth as a wing defender in this series. He played a huge role in shutting down Brandon Ingram in the second half of Game 1 and contributed to holding Ingram to 3-15 shooting to go with 5 turnovers.
That’s elite, and it’s a huge relief for anyone who has been waiting to see this version of Wade in the postseason.
“It’s a luxury to have a 6’9″ wing that we can use as a stopper,“ said Kenny Atkinson after the game. ”He’s been phenomenal so far.”
I still think the Cavs can use more from Wade on offense. The Raptors seemed to bet against him doing anything with the ball throughout this game and successfully jammed up a few possessions as a result.
Grade: A
Max Strus
6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
The Strus never quite got loose in this one. He was far cry from the 24 points he poured on Toronto in Game 1. Nevertheless, he drilled a momentum-swinging shot in the fourth quarter and kept the defensive intensity turned up throughout the game.
Grade: C-
Keon Ellis
0 points, 2 steals
Ellis was disruptive with his hands tonight. He broke up a few plays and amped up the Cleveland crowd with his hustle.
Still, it’d be nice to make a single shot. Just one?
Grade: D
Jaylon Tyson
3 points, 1 assist, 2 rebounds,
Tyson looked less frenzied than in his debut. I actually think getting into a brief scuffle in the second half calmed his nerves a little bit. Attention to detail and focus are the main things I’m watching for as Tyson gets his Playoff legs under him. Tonight was a small step forward, but progress nonetheless.
Grade: D+
Sam Merrill
5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Merrill hit a timely three-pointer in the fourth quarter. Other than that, the Cavs simply need more from him. He fights hard on defense, but that isn’t what’s going to keep him on the floor in playoff time. We need an injection of Merrill Mania sooner rather than later.
Grade: D+
Dennis Schroder
5 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound
The Cavs are flat-out going to need more from Schroder if he’s going to stay in the rotation. He hasn’t found many gaps in the defense and is conceding a major size advantage to the Raptors, even if he’s a scrappy guy who plays bigger than his height.
A Tuesday night tripleheader of NBA playoff games on NBC and Peacock wraps up with the Los Angeles Lakers playing host to the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their first-round series.
The Lakers won 107-98 in Game 1 despite the absence of injured scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) as four-time NBA MVP LeBron James had 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. The Rockets are playing without injured leading scorer Kevin Durant (knee).
This is the 10th playoff series between these franchises with the Lakers surpassing the Utah Jazz as the Rockets' most frequent postseason opponent. This is their first meeting since 2020, and the winner in ine of the past six playoff series between them has advanced to the NBA Finals. The Lakers hold a 6-3 edge in their playoff series meetings; Houston last advanced over the Los Angeles in 1996.
The Lakers are 94-9 in series with a 1-0 lead, and Houston is 6-27 in series with a loss in the opener.
See below for additional information on the Rockets-Lakers game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers game preview:
With Doncic and Reaves sidelined indefinitely, James, 41, has played in five of the past six games and recorded four double-doubles. His double-double in Game 1 was his 145th in the playoffs, which ranks thjird all-time behind only Tim Duncan (164) and Magic Johnson (157).
“For me, I gotta do a little bit of everything," James said. "That’s what the job requires. So that’s being a triple-threat: being able to rebound, being able to pass, being able to shoot. Also defend.”
Los Angeles also got a major Game 1 contribution from guard Luke Kennard, who scored a season-high 27 points (also a playoff career high) on 9-for-13 shooting, including 5-for-5 on 3-pointers. Kennard led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage (47.8%) during the regular season among qualified players.
Durant (26.0 points per game), who suffered a right-knee contusion in practice last Wednesday, was questionable for Game 1 until being ruled out in pregame warmups. His status is uncertain for Game 2.
"He bumped a knee in practice on Wednesday," Houston coach Ime Udoka said. "Hopefully, it's a one-game thing, but he tried it out just [a] short [time] ago and didn't feel good enough."
The Rockets were 4-0 in the regular season without Durant, but his teams are 8-9 in the 17 playoff games he's missed.
In Durant's Game 1 absence, Reed Sheppard had 17 points and eight assists (but made only 6 of 20 field goals) and Tari Eason had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
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:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels #5 goes up for a shot as New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby #8 jumps to defend during the third quarter.
The Knicks had their foot on the Hawks’ neck. All they had to do was press down.
Instead, they choked away what would’ve been a commanding 2-0 series lead. The best fourth-quarter team in the NBA completely fell apart.
The Knicks blew a 12-point lead to start the fourth quarter and fell to the Hawks 107-106 in Game 2 Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Now the series is tied 1-1 heading to Atlanta with a completely different tenor. Now the Hawks have life.
Now, the worst memories around the Knicks have come flooding back.
“It’s a game we should’ve won,” Josh Hart said. “In the playoffs, we can’t give away games.”
And it was the newest postseason villain who put them away. CJ McCollum kicked Jalen Brunson in the midsection in Game 1, causing a bit of controversy. Monday, it was a gut punch that he delivered, this time to all Knicks fans.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drives to the basket between Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye and Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (r.) during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
He scored six straight Hawks points as the Knicks lead melted away. A Brunson 3-pointer briefly tied the game before McCollum’s jumper re-established a two-point Hawks lead with 33.5 seconds left. The Knicks trailed the rest of the way.
Brunson drilled another 3-pointer to cut the Knicks deficit to one point with 7.1 seconds left. And McCollum missed both free throws, giving the Knicks life. But the Knicks were out of timeouts and could not set up their offense. Instead, Hart corralled the rebound off the missed free throw and threw a pass ahead to Mikal Bridges. He got a decent look — stepback jumper in the left corner — but it clanked off the rim and the collapse was complete.
“We’ve been in this situation before,” Hart said. “Everyone is frustrated with this loss. We’re gonna go into Game 3 with a great attention to detail and a great focus for a full 48 [minutes]. We’ve got high-character guys that’ll respond well.”
The Knicks had been 47-2 when leading after three quarters this season, including Game 1. Now, it’s 47-3. It’s hard not to think back to their Game 1 collapse to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals last year.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels #5 goes up for a shot as New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby #8 jumps to defend during the third quarter.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks went ice cold, shooting 5-for-22 from the field and 3-for-11 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter. They missed two free throws. They allowed the Hawks to shoot 10-for-15 from the field.
They had led from 2:58 left in the second quarter to 2:08 left in the fourth quarter. Their lead was as large as 14 points during that stretch.
“In that fourth quarter, you could tell [the Hawks] were playing with a level of desperation,” coach Mike Brown said. “There were four 50-50 balls and they got three of the four. We always use that stat to gauge the level of aggression in a game. In that fourth quarter, their aggression stepped up.”
The bench might have been at fault for losing an earlier lead in the second quarter. It was the starters, though, who were at fault for blowing it in the fourth quarter. All five starters were in the game with 6:05 left, with the Knicks up by six. OG Anunoby was carelessly stripped and later missed two free throws. Hart missed his only shot in the quarter. Bridges was 0-for-3. Karl-Anthony Towns was uninvolved and went 0-for-2.
Towns’ usage was particularly perplexing. He took just three shots in the first half. Then he went 6-for-7 and scored 14 points in the third quarter. Then he disappeared down the stretch.
Mikal Bridges #25 takes the final shot of the game and misses under presser by Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson #1 during the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“The opportunity just didn’t come around shooting,” Towns said. “But at the end of the day, I trust everybody in this locker room to shoot the ball. The opportunities weren’t available for me in the fourth, and it was fine.”
In truth, the Knicks had delivered a recipe for failure from the start. But it didn’t bite them until the last few minutes. They shot just 32.4 percent from 3-point range and 63.0 percent from the free-throw line. They committed 14 turnovers.
And, notably, it’s the second time the Knicks unraveled late.
In Game 1, they had a 19-point lead before an 11-0 Hawks run made it interesting. That lead proved insurmountable. Monday’s wasn’t.
“We have to play better with the lead,” Brunson said. “That’s twice in the fourth quarter now we’ve done that.”
McCollum — who heard “F–k you CJ” chants from the MSG crowd — finished with a game-high 32 points. He has hurt the Knicks more than any other Hawks player through two games — and it’s largely come with Brunson defending him.
“He was in a great rhythm,” Brunson said. “I gotta disrupt it. Make him play on his heels, make him react to me defensively. He was just in a rhythm. I give him a lot of credit.”
McCollum and the Hawks might deserve some credit. But this choke job was largely self-inflicted.
Vaughn Dalzell
