Knicks Beat Hawks 114-98, Even Series at 2-2

The New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114-98 on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at State Farm Arena, pulling even in their first-round NBA playoff series at 2-2 behind OG Anunoby’s game-high 22 points and a triple-double from Karl-Anthony Towns.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: New York established control early, outscoring Atlanta 27-20 in the opening period. The Knicks were sharper on both ends, moving the ball well and getting efficient looks while the Hawks struggled to find rhythm from the perimeter.

Second Quarter: The Knicks added to their lead in the second, taking the quarter 31-24. Their offense continued to operate efficiently, and the gap grew to 58-44 by halftime. Atlanta had difficulty matching New York’s shot-making, especially from three-point range.

Third Quarter: New York maintained the pressure after the break, winning the third quarter 28-21. That stretch effectively put the game out of reach, as the Knicks entered the fourth quarter ahead 86-65. The Hawks could not generate enough consistent offense to cut meaningfully into the deficit.

Fourth Quarter: Atlanta showed more life late and outscored New York 33-28 in the final period, but the earlier damage was too much to overcome. The Knicks managed the closing minutes well and came away with a 16-point road win.

Key Performers

New York Knicks:
OG Anunoby led all scorers with 22 points and added 10 rebounds for a strong two-way performance. Karl-Anthony Towns delivered one of the most complete games of the night with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, recording a triple-double and setting the tone for New York’s offense. As a team, the Knicks shot 49.4% from the field and 45.2% from three, numbers that helped separate them for most of the night.

Atlanta Hawks:
CJ McCollum paced Atlanta with 17 points. Dyson Daniels contributed across the box score with team highs of nine rebounds and six assists, while Onyeka Okongwu supplied 12 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Still, the Hawks shot 41.0% overall and just 24.4% from beyond the arc, making it difficult to keep pace.

NerdSports Stat: New York made four more three-pointers than Atlanta on 10 fewer attempts, a 20-point swing from long range in a game the Knicks won by 16.

Game Analysis

This game was largely decided by efficiency and control of the middle quarters. New York won each of the first three quarters and built a 21-point lead entering the fourth, leaving Atlanta too much ground to make up late. The Knicks matched the Hawks in field goal attempts at 83, but New York converted 41 shots to Atlanta’s 34 and was far better from deep, finishing 14-for-31 from three.

Towns’ playmaking stood out. His 10 assists from the center position gave New York a steady organizing presence, and his triple-double reflected how balanced the Knicks were offensively. Anunoby’s 22 points and 10 rebounds provided efficient scoring and extra possessions, while the Knicks also finished with a 43-38 rebounding edge and a 23-20 advantage in assists.

For Atlanta, the lack of perimeter accuracy changed the shape of the game. The Hawks went 10-for-41 from three, and that limited their ability to answer New York’s runs in the first half and again in the third quarter. Their fourth-quarter push was encouraging, but by then the Knicks had already done enough to protect the result.

In a broader league context, this was the kind of playoff performance built on execution rather than noise. On a weekend when NBA conversation also included Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s Most Improved Player recognition, the Knicks and Hawks delivered a reminder that postseason games often turn on spacing, decision-making, and who can sustain efficiency for longer stretches.

Closing Context

With the win, New York evened the Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2 and regained momentum heading into Game 5. The Knicks improved to 53-29 overall, while Atlanta, which finished the regular season 46-36, now heads into the next matchup needing a stronger offensive response after falling behind early on its home floor.

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