The New York Knicks opened their Eastern Conference playoff run with a statement performance on April 18, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. With 28 points from Jalen Brunson and a dominant second half from Karl-Anthony Towns, the No. 3 seed Knicks protected home court and seized early momentum in the series.
In their first postseason game under head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season, looked poised and confident. Brunson erupted in the opening quarter, making his first six shots of the game and pouring in 19 points to give New York a 30-24 advantage. His aggressive start energized the crowd and immediately put pressure on Atlanta’s defense.
The Hawks, who entered the playoffs as the No. 6 seed after a strong 20-6 finish following the All-Star break, kept pace early. CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 26 points while Jalen Johnson added 23. Both teams shot efficiently in the first half, with the Knicks opening eight of nine from the field and Atlanta responding with six of seven during a fast-paced start.
However, the game shifted after halftime. Towns, who struggled early and scored six points in the first half, found his rhythm in the final two quarters. He scored 19 of his 25 points after the break, attacking inside and stretching the floor from beyond the arc. His presence became especially impactful late in the game when the Knicks needed separation.
Midway through the fourth quarter, with New York holding a slim lead, Towns sparked a decisive 10-0 run. He knocked down a three-pointer, converted a 3-point play and added another triple to extend the Knicks’ lead to 106-87 with just over four minutes remaining. That burst effectively put the game out of reach.
Atlanta attempted one final push, stringing together an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 8 points. Towns responded again with a timely basket to restore a double-digit lead, halting the Hawks’ momentum and sealing the win.
OG Anunoby contributed 18 points on efficient shooting, while Josh Hart added 11 points and 14 rebounds, providing energy and control on the glass.
The Knicks shot 47.5% from the field and 48% from three-point range while converting 25 of 30 free throws.
Defensively, New York withstood physical stretches of play, including a third-quarter sequence involving a technical foul assessed to McCollum after contact with Brunson.
Despite intentional fouling tactics and attempts to slow the tempo, the Knicks maintained composure.
With Game 2 set for April 20 in New York, the Knicks look to build on their balanced offensive attack and second half dominance. If Brunson continues to set the tone early and Towns sustains his late-game impact, the series may continue to tilt in New York’s favor.
