In an impressive showdown in Atlanta, Karl-Anthony Towns led the New York Knicks to victory with 30 points and 11 rebounds, spearheading a 121-105 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. New York tightened their grip on third place in the Eastern Conference standings, thanks to notable contributions from OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, who scored 24 and 20 points, respectively.
Exhibiting remarkable shooting accuracy, the Knicks connected on 15 of their 29 attempts from beyond the arc and achieved a field goal percentage of 53.6% by hitting 45 out of 84 shots. Atlanta’s Trae Young, who scored 16 points, set a new franchise record for the most assists in a season. Currently in the race for the play-in tournament, the Hawks have been struggling lately, losing three consecutive games and five out of their last six contests.
Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ All-Star point guard, has been sidelined since March 6 due to a right ankle sprain. Despite missing his 15th straight game, he participated in pregame warmups for the first time following the injury, leaving Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau optimistic about his imminent return. Since Brunson’s absence, the Knicks have secured a 9-6 record.
The Knicks dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Hawks 40-22 to head into halftime with a commanding 78-53 lead. Trae Young surpassed Doc Rivers’ team record of 823 assists set in the 1986-87 season by delivering nine assists for the Hawks. He now leads the NBA, averaging 11.6 assists per game. Young broke the franchise record with an assist that facilitated a Mouhamed Gueye dunk and also achieved his 500th career steal in the first half.
The pivotal moment of the contest came when the Knicks extended a 51-41 lead with a 15-0 streak, culminating in Anunoby’s 3-pointer. This sequence pushed their lead to 66-41. Furthermore, the Knicks’ 78 points at halftime marked the highest number Atlanta conceded in the first half this season.
Both teams are set to play again on Sunday, with Atlanta hosting Utah and the Knicks hosting Phoenix, offering further opportunities to secure their standings as the season progresses.