With the clock winding down and the pressure of a pivotal postseason matchup mounting, CJ McCollum once again proved why he is one of the most reliable late-game performers in the NBA. McCollum drained a 15-foot fadeaway jumper with just 12.5 seconds remaining to lift the Atlanta Hawks to a thrilling 109-108 victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday night. The win gives Atlanta a 2-1 lead in this intense first-round playoff series as the battle for Eastern Conference supremacy continues.
McCollum Delivers in the Final Seconds
The Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks rivalry reached a new fever pitch in Game 3, as the game came down to a single possession. After a back-and-forth fourth quarter, the Hawks found themselves trailing by one point in the final minute. Following a Knicks turnover, the ball was placed in the hands of McCollum, who had already established himself as the hero of Game 2.
McCollum worked his way to his spot on the floor, creating just enough space to launch a high-arching fadeaway that found nothing but the bottom of the net. The veteran guard finished the night with 23 points, but none were more significant than those final two. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised his guard’s poise after the game, calling the game-winner “a great shot” while emphasizing the collective effort required to secure the win.
A Tale of Two Halves: Atlanta’s Dominance and New York’s Rally
The game began as a one-sided affair, with the Hawks appearing ready to run the Knicks out of the building. Atlanta built a massive 18-point lead in the first half, fueled by a scorching 11-0 run in the first quarter. The Hawks' bench played a massive role early on, outscoring New York’s reserves 18-0 in the opening period. Jonathan Kuminga was the spark plug for the second unit, providing 21 points and defensive energy that kept the State Farm Arena crowd in a frenzy.
However, the Knicks refused to go quietly. Behind the scoring of OG Anunoby, who led New York with 29 points, and the relentless play of Jalen Brunson, the Knicks clawed their way back into the contest. Brunson, who finished with 26 points, appeared to have stolen the game for New York when he completed a three-point play with 1:03 remaining to give the Knicks a 108-105 lead.
The Final Minute Drama
The closing 60 seconds were a masterclass in playoff tension. After Brunson’s go-ahead play, Jalen Johnson responded for the Hawks with a critical bucket to cut the deficit to 108-107. Johnson was a force throughout the evening, tallying a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. On the ensuing possession, the Knicks failed to capitalize as Brunson missed an airball, leading to a shot-clock violation that gave Atlanta the ball with 16.4 seconds left.
That set the stage for McCollum’s heroics. Even after McCollum’s jumper put Atlanta ahead, the Knicks had one last chance to win. Brunson attempted to drive to the hoop as time expired, but Kuminga knocked the ball loose, preventing the Knicks from even getting a final shot off before the horn sounded. Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed frustration with the late-game execution and officiating but acknowledged the difficulty of the environment.
Stat Leaders and Series Outlook
Aside from the primary scorers, several players filled the stat sheet in this physical contest:
- Jalen Johnson (Hawks): 24 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists
- CJ McCollum (Hawks): 23 points, 5 rebounds
- OG Anunoby (Knicks): 29 points on 9-of-16 shooting
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks): 21 points, 17 rebounds
- Jonathan Kuminga (Hawks): 21 points off the bench
The Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks series now shifts its focus to Game 4, which is scheduled for Saturday in Atlanta. With a 2-1 lead, the Hawks have the opportunity to put the Knicks on the brink of elimination before the series heads back to Madison Square Garden. New York will need to find a way to maintain their offensive rhythm for a full 48 minutes if they hope to even the series and reclaim home-court advantage.
Sources & Original Reporting
