NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson scored 28 points — 22 before halftime — and the New York Knicks opened their first-round playoff series with a 113–102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The All-Star guard hit his first six shots, helping New York establish a cushion that grew to 19 in the second half. Although Brunson went 0-for-7 after intermission, he shifted to playmaking and defense to steady the Knicks down the stretch.
Physical night at the Garden
The game turned chippy early in the third quarter when Hawks guard C.J. McCollum caught Brunson with an inadvertent kick to the groin on a jumper, drawing a technical foul. Minutes later, Jonathan Kuminga’s elbow clipped Karl-Anthony Towns on a rebound, and Jalen Johnson drove into Mitchell Robinson’s midsection, adding to the list of blows exchanged.
Supporting cast delivers
Towns sparked New York after halftime, finishing with 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists. OG Anunoby contributed 19 points, while Josh Hart added 11 points and 14 boards. Knicks coach Mike Brown praised the roster’s depth, saying, “Anybody can get going at any time. Tonight was about sacrifice and trusting the next man.”
Hawks held in check
Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who averaged nearly 21 points during the regular season, shot 6-for-17 for 17 points under constant pressure from New York’s perimeter defenders.
Milestones and memories
Brunson recorded his 38th 20-point outing with New York on the fourth anniversary of his first 40-point playoff performance, achieved with Dallas in 2022 against a Utah Jazz team then coached by current Hawks boss Quin Snyder. Since March 1, Brunson has averaged almost nine assists over a 19-game stretch, underscoring his expanded role as a facilitator.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
Source: ESPN
