NEW YORK — In a nail-biting showdown before the All-Star break, Jalen Brunson hit the decisive jump shot with just 11.1 seconds left in overtime, propelling the New York Knicks to a 149-148 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. Karl-Anthony Towns showcased an explosive performance, scoring a remarkable 44 points, helping the Knicks secure the win.

This game marked a significant milestone for Towns, as he notched 40 points in consecutive games for the first time in his professional journey, joining the ranks of five other Knicks players who have achieved this feat. Brunson, who was the most recent Knick to reach such a scoring level, contributed 36 points along with eight assists to aid his team’s success.

For the Hawks, Trae Young was a standout performer, tallying 38 points and facilitating 19 assists. Despite their three-game winning streak coming to an end, the Hawks made a valiant effort to surge back from a six-point deficit within the last 10 seconds of regulation time. However, in the closing moments, they missed crucial opportunities to clinch the game after Brunson’s pivotal shot, with Young failing to connect on a jumper and Georges Niang missing a subsequent three-pointer.

**Important Notes**
For the Hawks, the second half of the season looks daunting after a grueling first half that saw them play an NBA-high of 31 away games. Following the break, they will play 10 of their initial 12 games at home. Nevertheless, the team will face significant challenges as they announced that Larry Nance Jr. suffered a right knee fracture, sidelining him for at least six weeks. Additionally, Vit Krejci will be out for a month due to a lower back fracture.
The Knicks are enjoying momentum, achieving their ninth victory in their last 11 games and sitting comfortably in third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 36-18 as they head into the break.

**Crucial Moment**
The climax of the game came when the Knicks held a six-point lead with just 10 seconds left in regulation. After a three-pointer from Niang, Towns’ inbound pass was intercepted by Dyson Daniels, leading to a foul that sent him to the free-throw line. Daniels converted the first but missed the second shot, giving the Knicks a chance to secure the rebound. However, the Hawks regained possession, leading to Young being fouled and making both free throws to tie the score at 137 with a mere 2.9 seconds left.

**Key Statistic**
A noteworthy statistic from the game is that all Knicks starters logged a minimum of 42 minutes on the court, with Towns leading this endurance effort at just over 47 minutes.

**Upcoming Matches**
Looking ahead, the Knicks will face the Chicago Bulls on February 20, resuming their season after the break, while the Hawks are set to take on the Orlando Magic that same night.