New York witnessed a thrilling encounter on Monday evening as Jalen Brunson showcased a stunning performance, scoring 34 points to guide the New York Knicks to a 119-110 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
This impressive feat marked the 68th occasion where Brunson has scored over 30 points during his tenure with the Knicks, contributing to the team’s improved record of 28-16. Mikal Bridges made his mark by scoring 26 points, while Josh Hart made a notable return to form with 14 points after struggling with a neck injury that he sustained in a previous game against the Timberwolves.
Despite Trae Young leading the Hawks with 27 points and having seven of his teammates score in double figures, Atlanta could not overcome the Knicks, resulting in their drop to 22-20 and ending their three-game winning streak. De’Andre Hunter added 22 points off the bench but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
A crucial moment in the game occurred midway through the fourth quarter, where in just 16 seconds, Brunson executed a backdoor layup, pushing the Knicks ahead 107-100, followed by a charge drawn against Dyson Daniels on the subsequent play. From that point onward, New York maintained control of the game.
An interesting takeaway from the matchup was Atlanta’s strong offensive efficiency, demonstrating trouble for the Knicks, with the Hawks achieving a shooting percentage of 47.1% from the floor and an impressive 43.3% from the three-point line.
For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns made his comeback after missing the last two games due to a sprained right thumb. Regrettably, he seemed a bit out of sync, finishing with 13 points on a subpar 5-of-18 shooting performance, alongside nine rebounds and seven assists.
One of the pivotal moments was Towns draining a three-pointer with 5:52 left on the clock, which extended New York’s lead to 110-100.
Furthermore, it was notable that Dyson Daniels, who came into the game leading the league in steals, managed to secure three steals during play, showcasing his defensive prowess.
As for what lies ahead, the Knicks are set to traverse the East River for a highly anticipated match against the Nets on Tuesday night. This game marks a significant moment for Bridges as it will be his first appearance at the Barclays Center following his major offseason trade that sent five first-round draft picks to the Nets. Meanwhile, Atlanta is gearing up to host the Pistons on Wednesday night.