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Maybe we do want Boston?

The Sixers smoked the Celtics 106-93 in Game 6 in a contest that was not as close as the score would indicate. There will a Game 7 in Boston Saturday.

Tyrese Maxey was brilliant from start to finish, leading all scorers with 30 points, shooting 11-of-22 from the floor along with five assists. Joel Embiid didn’t shoot well but still had the offense humming with his gravity. He finished with 19 points, going 6-of-18 from the floor.

Paul George was the flamethrower the Sixers needed, scoring 23 points, shooting 8-of-17 from the field and 5-of-9 from three.VJ Edgecombe was very complementary in transition, finishing with 14 points on 11 shots along with eight rebounds. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 18.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• It didn’t take as long for Embiid to find his jumper as he nailed a turnaround from the midrange on his first touch of the game. He and Edgecombe went on to miss open threes as both offenses started off slow. Embiid and Jayson Tatum had dueling and-1s off of drives, but Tatum even missed the free throw. George hit the first three of the game and Maxey shook Derrick White on the following possession to do the same.
• Embiid was operating a lot from the three-point line again, and again did miss his first two shots from behind the arc. The offense stalled out for a couple minutes after that second three before Maxey got to the basket. Quentin Grimes checked in around the same time for Edgecombe, so he wasn’t taking any of Kelly Oubre Jr.‘s minutes. The two of them worked to strip Brown on Grimes’ first possession of the game.

• It became very clear that the Sixers were happy with whatever shot Boston took as long as it came from inside the arc. While the Celtics made three of them, they only attempted seven in the quarter. The Sixers generated the looks they wanted to on the other end as well, playing out of Embiid and Maxey’s two-man game. Like a lot of other moments in this series, they could not get them to go. The fast break layup Grimes smoked doesn’t count towards this category, but the three wide open jumpers from inside the foul line Embiid missed did. The Celtics took a three-point lead as the Sixers missed their last seven shots of the first.

Second Quarter

• The Sixers’ field goal drought lasted a couple minutes into the quarter, but Edgecombe and Embiid getting to the line while keeping Boston off the board. Embiid nailed a three to end two droughts. Brown answered with a bucket and Edgecombe threw down a big transition dunk with Brown in the area as the teams spent a few minutes on the seesaw.

• White and Oubre have struggled more than anyone to shoot the ball in this series and they both knocked down threes in the quarter as the shotmaking picked up. The Sixers were still getting good looks on the majority of their touches. Maxey was the most consistent. He would use up the entirety of the half court getting to the basket and was able to weave his way through. George got hot as well, but that was from behind the arc.
• The Sixers had some weird, potentially momentum killing plays, like Oubre turning it over right after grabbing a rebound and a reckless Embiid foul on a defender after Maxey had made a layup. For every one, the Sixers, mainly Maxey, had an answer in the first half. He was able to drill a three despite selling out to draw a foul, and he got to the rim again to put the Sixers up by nine at the break.

Third Quarter

• The second half couldn’t have started better for the Sixers as Oubre stole an errant pass in the lane and found George for another three on the break. On the ensuing possession, Brown was called for a moving screen to pick up his fourth of the night before Embiid hit a midrange J. As the Celtics were reeling, Brown made a tough step-back three in Oubre’s face, but the Sixers responded with two beautiful behind-the-back passes. Embiid hit Oubre in the dunker passing out of a double while George was able to thread the needle to Edgecombe in transition.

• White was easily having his best game of the series as he made another three coming out of the Celtics’ timeout. George was able to answer that right after Oubre caught an Embiid airball and popped it right back in.
• Once the Sixers had gotten their lead to 15, their offense would stall again. Maxey was able to get to the basket again and George nailed a couple tough pull-ups to answer Boston’s nibbling. A couple stops later and Maxey extended the lead with an amazingly acrobatic layup. Andre Drummond appeared to drill a three from the corner, but he just didn’t get up in time and the Sixers had to settle for a 19-point lead after three.

Fourth Quarter

• The offense kept rolling for the first two minutes of the quarter with Embiid and Justin Edwards able to get easy baskets in the midrange. Embiid looked to do it again before hitting a cutting George on the baseline for a reverse layup. After a timeout, Joe Mazzulla put in an all-bench lineup, a move that felt like a message to his own team more than anything. Those guys were able to rip off an 11-0 run to remind everyone that the game wasn’t over yet.
• That run was ended by a much needed friendly roll on an Embiid jumper. Maxey making another winding layup did a lot to settle things. The crowd really felt back in it when Oubre drew a foul and Embiid mimicked Oubre’s push-ups getting back up. Embiid then found Edgecombe out of the post for a big corner three.

• The Celtics never put their starters back in the game. Something worth monitoring is that Tatum appeared to leave with an injury. Embiid and George finally checked out for the night with two minutes left up by 14, soon to be 15 after an impressive and-1 from Edgecombe.

Heroes and zeros from the Knicks’ 140-89 Game 6 series-clinching win over the Hawks on Thursday night in Atlanta:  

Hero

OG Anunoby solidified his standing as the star of the series, saving his best for last.

The 28-year-old was a two-way force, sparking the Knicks early — with 26 points and four steals in the first half — and finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while shooting 11-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers.

Zero

C.J. McCollum was right. He was no villain after all.

The Hawks guard started the series as its most dominant player — as well as one of the best stories in the postseason — but the 34-year-old had a forgettable finish to his first season in Atlanta.

After being held to six points in Game 5 in New York, McCollum disappeared with the rest of his teammates in the must-win Game 6, failing to score in the first 10 minutes, then finishing with 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting, along with two turnovers and zero assists.

Unsung hero

Welcome back, Mikal Bridges. One week earlier, the Knicks’ much-maligned wing was benched in Atlanta and held without a point in Game 3.

He followed with two more single-digit scoring efforts.

But Bridges revived his confidence in Game 6, nearly scoring as many points as he had in the previous four games combined, finishing with 24 points (10-of-12 from the field), five rebounds, three assists and one block.

Key stat

63-11 — The extended run by the Knicks from four minutes into the first quarter and into the second quarter after the Hawks took an early 11-9 lead, giving the Knicks an unfathomable 50-point lead in the second quarter.

Quote

“It shows the kind of team that we are, what we can be. We knew we kind of gave two games away, so we wanted to come out and close out the series today.”

— Josh Hart

The Hawks’ Game 6 deficit to the Knicks got so bad that Shaquille O’Neal tried to revive the team.

During ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” halftime show on Thursday, O’Neal pulled out a mini plushie of Atlanta’s mascot, Harry the Hawk, and performed CPR compressions on it.

“Shaq’s working out some resuscitation techniques. I don’t think that’s gonna work,” host Ernie Johnson said on the broadcast.

Shaq was trying to revive the Atlanta Hawks

They're down 83-36 in Game 6, the largest halftime deficit in NBA playoffs history

(: ESPN) pic.twitter.com/N0tXUvOxzA

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) May 1, 2026

Kenny Smith then started waving a white flag, as O’Neal placed the toy mascot into a miniature coffin.

“I’m gonna miss you, Harry,” O’Neal said jokingly.

The Knicks jumped out to a commanding 83-36 lead over Atlanta at the half, which is the largest lead in NBA postseason history.

New York ultimately rolled to a 140-89 win, the biggest margin of victory in Knicks playoff history.

OG Anunoby led the way for the Knicks during the first half, scoring 26 points — adding three more in the second half — while shooting an efficient 10-of-12 from the field. He finished with 29.

Anunoby, who came into Game 6 averaging 20 points during the series on 54.2 percent from beyond the arc, proved to be one of the catalysts in the opening round of the playoffs.

“I think he’s one of a kind. Getting to see his work ethic, the person he is, what he has just been able to do in his time as a Knick, he’s been great,” Jalen Brunson said of Anunoby on Wednesday. “I’m so happy to have him.

“I’m happy I don’t have to see him on that side of the ball — he just creates havoc. I think his game’s growing, and that’s what happens when you work hard.” 

Despite coming out competitive in the game’s first minutes, the Knicks quickly pulled away, establishing a 40-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Atlanta attempted to show some fire midway through the second quarter with a scuffle between guard Dyson Daniels and Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson.

Both Daniels and Robinson were ejected from the game after the fight poured onto the sidelines.

The Knicks did not let up, however, outscoring Atlanta 43-21 in the second before the domination continued in the second to end the Hawks’ season.

The series between the Lakers and Rockets heads back to Houston where Game 6 will be held on Friday. This will be L.A.’s third attempt to close the series.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

When: 6:30 p.m. PT, May 1

Where: Toyota Center

Watch: Prime Video

Over the last two games, the Rockets have controlled the series in a vast array of ways. Whether that’s simply playing like the more desperate team or being the better team on both ends of the court, Houston has put the pressure on the purple and gold and it’s only about to get more intense in Game 6.

A lot of what the Lakers were doing right in the first three games of the series has gone the other way. The Rockets certainly deserve credit for that, but now it’ll be up to the Lakers to rediscover what brought them success in this series. That’s what will dictate whether or not Los Angeles can close this series out.

Can the Lakers regain their shooting?

Over the last two games, the Lakers have only converted 12 of their 49 attempts from the 3-point arc. That’s a huge disparity from the first three games. A lot of this has to do with Luke Kennard regressing to the mean and, of course, the Rockets stepping up their perimeter defense.

But still, L.A. is a better shooting team than what they’ve shown in Games 4 and 5 and it’s important that they regain that. Otherwise, their offensive struggles will help the Rockets force a Game 7.

Where will L.A. get its spark?

In Games 1 and 2, it was Kennard and Marcus Smart. In Game 3, it was those two and Rui Hachimura. But in the last two, it feels as if the Rockets’ role players have outplayed the Lakers as a whole.

Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and co., have all stepped up in helping Alperen Şengün, which is why it feels like the Rockets are a step ahead of the Lakers in dictating the game’s pace and momentum. This has to change for the purple and gold, who badly need another spark plug alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

Can the Lakers handle pressure?

Coming off a game they should’ve absolutely won at home, the Lakers have made things harder for themselves by now having to win on the road. They know what’s at stake if they don’t and that’s being an inch closer to potentially being on the wrong side of NBA history as the first team to blow a 3-0 lead.

Fortunately, the team is filled with veterans, and they’ve dealt with enough adversity all season to know how to handle this type of pressure. In fact, they’ve shown on multiple occasions this season that they can rise to the occasion, and that’s what they have to do once again. The team has been built and trained for moments like this.

That’s why this is a must win game for the Lakers who have to go all out in Game 6. Let’s see if third time’s indeed the charm for the purple and gold on Friday.

Notes and Updates

• Speaking of what needs to change in Game 6, in the Lakers’ last two losses, they committed a total of 39 turnovers while the Rockets have had 27 steals. This is unacceptable and something that needs to be addressed as well.
• For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) is out.
• As for the Rockets, Fred VanVleet (ACL surgery) and Steven Adams (left ankle surgery) are noted as out while Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) is doubtful.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

For nearly two weeks, the Knicks toyed with our emotions. Game One of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with the Hawks was a mostly by-the-books win. Then our rosy dreams of championship glory were dashed by a choke job, a one-point loss in Game Two, and an even worse one-point stinker in Game Three. A disconsolate portion of the fanbase wondered: If they struggle against the sixth-seeded Hawks, how could they possibly clear the next two hurdles to reach the Finals? To which the Knickerbockers replied, Not so fast, you fickle fans!

Game Four was a reassuring 16-point win, and Game Five was a 29-point blowout. As they took the floor at State Farm Arena for a closeout game, we wondered which version of the Knicks would show up. We cautiously hoped they’d continue their momentum from the previous two contests. We did not expect the largest halftime lead in playoff history (83-36), or the largest lead after three quarters in playoff history (117-64), or the most points scored in Knicks playoff history. When the final buzzer granted mercy to the Hawks, New York had completed perhaps the most dominant playoff game in NBA history with a 140-89 win. Bring on the Celtics or Sixers!

Clearly, the Hawks were intimidated by the moment. In the first minute and a half, they committed two turnovers and watched the Knicks jump to a 5-0 lead. After that, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (who received the NBA’s Most Improved Player trophy before the game) led his cohort on a 9-0 run, but then OG Anunoby said Nahhh. OG sizzled, making all of his field goal attempts to score eight of the next 10 points for New York. Overall, he capped an amazing series with 29 points, seven boards, four steals, and +42 while shooting 11-14 in his 27 minutes.

Atlanta coach Quin Snyder needed a timeout at 6:40, with his team trailing 15-11. Whatever he doodled on his whiteboard didn’t help. From there, the guests scored eight straight, capped by their captain going into his bag of tricks and finishing high off the glass for a contested layup. About three minutes after his first timeout, Atlanta’s skipper took another, hoping to inspire his team out of a 12-point hole.

Josh Hart (14 PTS, 5 RBS, 27 MIN) was a game-time decision with a sore back, but as expected, he suited up for the chance to close out the Birds. Early on, he and Mikal Bridges took turns bringing the ball up the court and letting Jalen Brunson play off-ball. Cap finished his night with 17 points on 12 shots and eight assists in 29 minutes.

The Knicks closed the frame ahead 40-15, thanks to a 31-4 run that featured buckets by Anunoby, Brunson, and Bridges, another triple by Brunson, and a Mitchell Robinson alley-oop (plus a wicked block of a driving CJ McCollum). Unfortunately, Mitch seemed to injure his ankle when fighting for rebounding position and left the game late in the quarter, heading for the locker room. That was the only complaint in a brutal first frame for the Birds, who coughed up the ball eight times, missed five of six three-point attempts, and scored just four points in the last six minutes of the period.

Continuing the good vibes, Jose Alvarado picked off an Alexander-Walker pass to start the second quarter. From there, New York scored eight straight on their way to a 22-4 run that gave New York a 43-point lead at the 6:42 mark. Not only were our heroes raining buckets (68% FG, 55% 3PT), but they played their feistiest defense of the season. Even Jordan Clarkson played clamp-down defense! New York had 11 steals and had forced 13 giveaways, and there were still seven minutes left to play in the half. The score reached 72-22 when Anunoby scored on an and-one drive.

Rest easy, employees. Jim “Eye in the Sky” Dolan was impressed.

While OG made the free throw, things got spicier than Magic City wings. Mitch, having returned from the locker room, tangled with Dyson Daniels, who was rightfully sore with his team trailing by 50 points. After benches cleared, the players were separated, and the two main offenders were ejected. Watch it below, Joe, and say a prayer that it doesn’t result in a suspension for Mitch.

The rest of the quarter was as much of a laugher. New York was outscored 14-12, but managed to finish the half ahead, 83-36. That’s right: the Knicks scored 40 points in the first quarter and 43 in the second, while the Hawks scored 15 and 21, respectively. What happened in that half was positively X-rated.

Fun Fact: playing 28 minutes, Karl-Anthony Towns attempted four field goals tonight, making one—but he shot a perfect-10 from the charity stripe, on the way to his second career postseason triple-double: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, and one block. A weird statline, certainly, and one that doesn’t quite indicate what a monster game the big man had. Atlanta was hopeless against him.

Through the half, the good guys had outshot the villains (65%-31% FG, 44%-22% 3PT), outrebounded them 24-15, stole the ball 12 times, forced 14 turnovers, won the paint 36-12, and beat them on fast breaks, 18-3. Anunoby led all scorers with a playoff career-high of 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting (plus seven boards and four steals, for Pete’s sake). Second-highest scorer? Mikal Bridges with 16—and he’d finish 24! Nice rebound game after what’s been a rough series for Bridges. For the home team, Jalen Johnson had 11 points and finished with 21.

NY started the second half with a 12-2 run. The lead reached 61 points, the largest lead in playoff history. Here’s the proof—and remember, Atlanta is a professional basketball team and playing an elimination game. Simply stunning:

From there, Atlanta managed a 16-8 stretch, but New York had no reason to sweat. Coach Mike Brown kept all the starters in until 5:24, when he swapped Clarkson and Miles McBride for Anunoby and Bridges. His counterpart, Snyder, said defense be damned and sent in Buddy Hield to launch some shots. At the 2:45 mark, Brown subbed in Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, and Ariel Hukporti. With three quarters in the books, New York was ahead 117-64.

In the fourth, Brown emptied his bench, giving postseason minutes to Tyler Kolek, Shamet, Pacome Dadiet, Jeremy Sochan, and Mohamed Diawara. Snyder went with Corey Kispert, Jonathan Kuminga, Zaccharie Risacher, Tony Bradley, and Keaton Wallace—and the reserve Knicks had still outscored Atlanta by the midway mark. While the more expensive players enjoyed the game with grins all around, the back-ups brought it home with ease.

Congratulations to the Hawks for an impressive run through the last leg of the season, for giving the Knicks a challenge for three games, and, most of all, for ridding themselves of that deadbeat Trae Young. Especially that last one. Eff that guy.

Up Next

Sir Matthew Miranda is sharpening his pen to treat you lot to a ripe recap. The Knicks will face whoever survives the Celtics-Sixers series—at this moment, Philly leads by 15 in the third quarter and is trying to force a Game Seven. Me? I’m going to bed with a big dumb smile on my face. Thanks, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

Not every unforgettable night announces itself. The Golden State Warriors spent this season living in that space, where the version you thought you understood rarely showed up the same way twice. This series is about the nights when that uncertainty turned into something better, when the spotlight moved somewhere unexpected and stayed there. I’m talking about the ones you didn’t see coming until they were already happening.

Back in November on the road against the Pelicans, the night belonged to Moses Moody before most people realized he’d taken it.

Stephen Curry had just put up 46 and 49 in back-to-back games in San Antonio, the kind of stretch that turns everyone else into supporting cast whether they like it or not. So when the Golden State Warriors rolled into New Orleans the next night, the script felt obvious: Steph handles the heavy lifting, everybody else fills in the gaps, get out of there clean.

Steph went 2-of-11 for nine points instead. The Warriors won by 18 anyway because Moody decided the game was his.

He nailed seven threes in the first quarter!! before the game had time to become anything, he had already turned it into something else entirely. Career high in threes for a full game, and he got there in 12 minutes, against a Pelicans team looking to steal one at home from a dynasty.

What makes the seven in the quarter stand out isn’t just the volume, it’s who else has done it as a Warrior. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. That’s the list, folks. That’s the entire history of the franchise for something like this, a team that has spent a decade redefining what shooting looks like. Moody didn’t join a club so much as ascended into rarefied Golden State air. Anytime your name is mentioned next to the greatest shooters of all time, you’re doing it the right way.

That’s all it really was. Read the possession, trust the pass, don’t overthink the shot. He made his first two, missed one, then made five straight to close the quarter, and by the time New Orleans started reacting, the damage had already settled in.

He finished with 32 points on 10-of-16 from the field, eight threes, a career night that didn’t feel forced or hunted. It just kept happening, possession after possession, putting his name into history.

I know I’m one for major basketball hyperbole, but in this case it’s not the comparison, projection, or what it means long-term. I enjoyed the simplicity of it where for one night, the best shooter on the floor Steph Curry and the offense didn’t break trying to adjust to that. It just flowed in a different direction.

With a chance to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Knicks didn't mess around in the slightest, dismantling the Atlanta Hawks in a historic 140-89 win on Thursday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Things couldn't have started better for New York, which was off and running after Jalen Brunson drilled a three-pointer on the first possession of the game. A minute later, OG Anunoby slammed one home and the Knicks were up 5-0 early. Both players would end up being critical for New York.

The only hiccup of the entire game for the Knicks came when the Hawks quickly retaliated with a 9-0 run to go up by four points and looking quite formidable in a win-or-go-home situation. Turns out, that little spurt would be the best offense Atlanta would have all night. From there, New York simply took over and ended the quarter with a ridiculous 35-6 run.

-- Leading the charge was Anunoby, who scored or assisted on five straight possessions starting with that early dunk to put the Knicks back in front. He led all scorers in the opening quarter with 14 points, just one point less than what the Hawks put up as a team. 

Brunson also had a big first quarter with nine points and five assists, finding multiple open guys, including Mikal Bridges, who broke out of an offensive slump in the series with eight points after 12 minutes. He scored the final basket before the end of the first quarter, which put New York up 40-15.

-- With such a commanding lead after one quarter, the only question was whether the Knicks would allow the Hawks to fight back and make it a game. The answer was a resounding no. Instead, New York kept its foot on the gas and continued its total destruction of Atlanta in the second quarter by beginning the period on a 10-1 run.

-- The Knicks were getting any look they wanted from outside and made the Hawks pay when they drove to the paint by scoring easy layups, dunks or going to the free throw line and drilling them. Anunoby and Bridges were at the forefront of the offensive onslaught, while Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns also got in the mix, with Towns doing all of his damage from the line (10-for-10).

On the other side, Atlanta still couldn't get anything to fall and went into the locker room with a season-low 36 points at halftime and was down by an insurmountable 47 points after New York dropped another 43 points in the quarter. The only downside for the Knicks was the ejection of Mitchell Robinson (along with Dyson Daniels), but they would be fine without him.

-- With the game wrapped up after just two quarters, the second half flew by as the Hawks waved the white flag. New York, meanwhile, kept up the intensity and continued to pick them apart. Following Anunoby's incredible first half, Bridges took the baton in the third quarter and fully broke out, finishing with 24 points on 10-for-12 from the floor.

-- Also impressive in the second half was Towns, who, for the second straight game, showed off his passing abilities and dished out 10 assists for yet another triple-double after scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also added three steals and a block in just 28 minutes. His double-digit assists were the most on the team, with Brunson not far behind with eight.

Speaking of Brunson, it wasn't his best shooting night, particularly from deep (1-for-6), but the point guard finished with 17 points and made his teammates around him better. None benefitted more than Anunoby, who led all scorers with 29 points on 11-for-14 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep. Anunoby did it all with seven rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block.

-- New York unloaded its bench in the fourth quarter and every single player got on the board. The Knicks shot 58.8 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from three-point range. They also outrebounded the Hawks, 46-35, and had 16 steals on the night.

Game MVP: OG Anunoby

His play in the first half helped propel the Knicks to their incredible lead that sealed their series win.

Highlights

OG Anunoby finishes off the possession with a slam 💪 pic.twitter.com/8ORUW8ZsPN

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 30, 2026

What a start for OG Anunoby 🔥 pic.twitter.com/icTwdw7YjY

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 30, 2026

DEUCE FROM DOWNTOWN pic.twitter.com/Wzir4wJAgd

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 30, 2026

Truth is, no one can do what OG does 🔥 pic.twitter.com/T9oi3xOjNX

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 30, 2026

ALLEY-OOP TO BRIDGES! pic.twitter.com/yUaJDYLAut

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 1, 2026

What's next

The Knicks will play either the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics or No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers in the second round.

ATLANTA — The Knicks made a closeout game look like a preseason game.

It’s hard to picture now, but there was actually a time the Knicks trailed in this series. But by the end of the series, it looked like the Hawks didn’t belong on the same court.

The Knicks toyed with them. They bullied them.

They humiliated them — in historic fashion.

There was no room for even a glimmer of hope for the Hawks. Hardly a second of belief they might have a shot to force a Game 7. The Knicks wouldn’t allow it. This was them at their very best, as they obliterated the Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 on Thursday night at State Farm Arena to win the series and advance to the second round, where they’ll face the winner of Saturday’s Game 7 between the Celtics and 76ers.

The blowout was unprecedented:

• They led by 47 points at halftime, setting the record for biggest halftime lead in postseason history.
• They led by 53 points after three quarters, setting the record for biggest lead after three quarters in postseason history.
•  Their 61-point lead in the third quarter was the biggest in franchise history in the postseason.
• The 140 points were the most the Knicks have scored in a playoff game.

“That’s something where it shows what we can do,” Josh Hart said. “And now we gotta continue to build off of it. Now we can’t sit there and not do it because we know we have what it takes to do it.

“It just reinforced the kind of team that we have, the players that we have, the coaches that we have.”

The Knicks closed the first quarter on an incredible 31-4 run and led by 25 heading into the second quarter. And the Hawks completely capitulated. The Knicks started the second quarter on a 32-7 run to take a 50-point lead. In total, it was an absurd 63-11 run spanning the two quarters. Just a few more minutes into the second quarter, the lead was 61. They were able to pull their starters by the end of the third quarter. 

It was comical. It looked like one of those games against a tanking opponent at the end of the year. Even those are usually more competitive.

“Feel good about it tonight,” Jalen Brunson said. “Tomorrow, we turn the page. It’s good to celebrate the wins, but we can’t let this drag on. We gotta refocus up. When we wake up tomorrow, it’s on to the next.”

It left the Hawks with nothing left to play for beyond pretending to show fight and provoking the Knicks. And Mitchell Robinson took their bait.

As OG Anunoby took a free throw in the second quarter, Dyson Daniels yanked Robinson’s arm. Robinson subsequently got in Daniels’ face, and Onyeka Okongwu came over and tried to pull Robinson away from Daniels. That’s when a heated fracas ignited.

Players and coaches from both teams ran in and separated the two, but Robinson tried to go back for more. Knicks coach Mike Brown fell while trying to get in Robinson’s way. Referee Kevin Scott was knocked to the ground earlier.

Robinson and Daniels were given technicals and ejected. Daniels’ was one of three Hawks technicals — Jalen Johnson and coach Quin Snyder also got one each — in the second quarter as they unraveled.

Anunoby — to complete his excellent series — got the Knicks going early, scoring 10 of their first 15 points as he continued his red-hot shooting. By halftime, he had 26 points and finished with 29 — on 11-for-14 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 from 3-point range — along with seven rebounds.

The Hawks offered such little resistance that even Mikal Bridges — who otherwise had a nightmarish series — was able to go off and use the game as a needed confidence booster. He recorded 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field.

Towns, despite only making one field goal, finished with another triple-double, recording 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He became the first Knick to record multiple triple-doubles in the same series, and the second in the same postseason, joining Walt Frazier.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NBA STANDINGS AND KNICKS STATS

Brunson added 17 points and eight assists. Hart had 14 points.

The Knicks recorded an absurd 16 steals along with six blocks.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker accepted his Most Improved Player award just before tipoff. It was the last — and only — thing Hawks fans had to cheer for. It wouldn’t be long until they were down double digits and until double digits turned into a bloodbath.

Remember when the Knicks trailed 2-1 in the series? Over the next three games, they outscored the Hawks by a combined 96 points.

They’re surging at the perfect time.

“Our guys, their connectedness right now is off the charts,” Brown said. “When you lock into the detail and you’re connected like that, with a group that’s as talented and versatile as that group, you got a chance to do that.”

The Atlanta Hawks were back at home for Game 6 to face the New York Knicks in a win-or-go-home situation. The last two games have not been the best for the Hawks, and they found themselves in a position where they have to play some of their best basketball if they want to stay alive.

The Hawks got on the board with this nice pass for Jalen Johnson that led to a dunk.

The Hawks turned defense into offense on this play, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker knocked down a 3-pointer.

It was a good start for the Hawks, but the Knicks started to find a rhythm on offense. Several turnovers also hurt the Hawks, and the Knicks got in transition and scored.

The Hawks tried to stop the bleeding, and Johnson found Mouhamed Gueye for this lob.

Things didn’t get any better for the Hawks in the first, as the turnovers continued to pile up. The Knicks took advantage and they put their foot on the gas to give themselves a 25-point lead going into the second.

It got worse for the Hawks in the second, and couldn’t generate much offense at all. On the other hand, it felt like the Knicks were getting whatever they wanted.

The emotions started to come out for the Hawks, and Dyson Daniels found himself tangled up with Mitchell Robinson midway through the quarter, which took a while for both sides to cool down. Daniels and Robinson both received technicals and were ejected from the game.

It was another 40-point quarter for the Knicks, and the Hawks trailed 83-36 going into halftime.

The third quarter was probably the Hawks’ best of the night, but it didn’t matter because the score was already out of control. Johnson led the way with eight points, but the bench played most of the quarter. The Hawks trailed 117-64 going into the fourth.

The starters came out to begin the fourth, but after a while, the end of the bench played out the remainder of the game.

Though it was a rough way to end the season, the Hawks still have to be proud of the year they had, despite the many changes on tbhe team.

The next stop for the Hawks will be the lottery, where they have a chance to get a top pick in the draft.