Jalen Brunson bounced back with 39 points as the Knicks thumped the Hawks 126–97 in Game 5, taking a 3–2 series lead.
New York turned a tense series moment into a statement.
With Jalen Brunson heating up at the right time. the Knicks delivered a 126–97 blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 on Tuesday night. moving ahead 3–2 in the series.. Brunson’s focus—especially after a difficult start—was impossible to ignore. and it reshaped the tone of the matchup when New York needed it most.
The difference-maker was simple: Brunson played like the engine of the offense again.. After struggling to find his shot early in the series. he exploded for 39 points. shooting 15-of-23 from the field while adding eight assists and committing just one turnover in 35 minutes.. That stat line wasn’t only about scoring.. It was about rhythm—controlling possessions. keeping the offense organized. and limiting the careless mistakes that can swing a playoff game.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown didn’t hide his admiration after the final horn.. He described Brunson’s night as “phenomenal. ” and he also pointed to the bigger picture—how a veteran group responds when adversity shows up.. That framing mattered because the series had already created plenty of pressure.. New York had lost Games 2 and 3. and with it came fresh questions about whether Brunson could handle both the offensive workload and the defensive demands against a more physically imposing Hawks lineup.
Brunson’s Game 5 numbers underline how thoroughly New York corrected the issues that had lingered.. Across the early part of the series. his production came with weaker efficiency. and his ball security wasn’t matching his usual standard.. In Game 5. the assist-to-turnover flow looked cleaner: he produced 21 assists and 14 turnovers in the series up to that point. but in Tuesday’s decisive stretch he turned in one of the best versions of himself—eight assists to one turnover in his most crucial minutes.
That plus-minus swing also tells a story that box scores often miss.. Brunson finished with a plus-minus of +23 in Game 5. which outperformed the combined total of his plus-minus from the previous four games (+20).. In practical terms. it suggests the Knicks weren’t just winning when he was on the court—they were pulling the game apart.
Why Brunson’s comeback mattered beyond the points
The playoffs have a way of magnifying both strengths and weaknesses.. In earlier games. there were growing concerns about Brunson’s defense against an Atlanta lineup that featured four starters listed at 6-foot-5 or taller.. Brunson’s smaller stature has been a talking point throughout his career. and that mismatch became more noticeable when New York felt it had to win—and win decisively.
What Game 5 changed is that Brunson didn’t only carry the offensive load; he helped New York manage the overall game plan more effectively.. When a guard like Brunson is attacking with efficiency, it forces defenders to stay honest.. That can buy space for teammates. slow the pace at the wrong moments for the opposition. and reduce the frequency of defensive collapses that come from scrambling to cover size advantages.
For fans, the human side of that impact is straightforward: a star performance can take a team out of survival mode. New York looked like a group playing with shared confidence rather than individual urgency, and Brown’s comments reflected that collective mindset.
The series now swings toward closure
After starting to fall behind, the Knicks have moved into a spot where they can end the argument in the next game. They’ll host Game 6 at State Farm Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, trying to close out the series and push beyond Atlanta rather than letting doubt linger.
Closing a 3–2 series is never guaranteed, even after a lopsided win.. The Hawks will likely look to respond with adjustments meant to attack New York’s structure and test whether Brunson can repeat the same efficiency under a tighter defensive microscope.. But New York now has proof that it can overwhelm Atlanta when Brunson is attacking. making reads. and protecting the ball.
There’s also a franchise-level implication to this moment.. Misryoum understands how high the stakes can become when expectations are already loud.. A first-round failure would have felt especially brutal for a team carrying championship aspirations.. With the series at 3–2 and one win away from the next stage. the Knicks have turned an anxious stretch into something close to momentum.
Still, the focus for Game 6 can’t be only on the final score.. The key question is whether New York can maintain the standards of Game 5—efficient shot creation. controlled turnovers. and enough defensive stability to prevent Atlanta from building its own rhythm.. If Brunson’s night was the spark, the next step is making sure the Knicks keep it lit.