Towns triple-double – Karl-Anthony Towns posted a postseason triple-double as the Knicks beat the Hawks 114-98 to tie the Eastern Conference series 2-2, setting up a pivotal Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.
ATLANTA — The Knicks returned to form in a hurry, flipping momentum after back-to-back losses and turning Game 4 into a statement with a 114-98 win over the Hawks.
The catalyst was Karl-Anthony Towns, who delivered his first postseason triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.. OG Anunoby added 22 points, while Jalen Brunson contributed 19 as New York took control early and never let Atlanta fully recover.. For Knicks fans watching the series tighten. it was the kind of balanced performance that steadies a team when pressure mounts.
From the opening quarter. New York established a lead and then built on it in the way playoff teams often do when their defense is locked in and their offense is efficient.. By halftime, the Knicks were ahead 68-44, and they extended that margin to 20 by the end of the third quarter.. The message was clear: this wasn’t going to be another close escape or a late-game scramble.
That separation matters in a series that’s now even at 2-2.. It also sets up a familiar rhythm for the remainder of the Eastern Conference matchup—New York will host Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. and the series is guaranteed to shift back to Atlanta for Game 6.. The path forward is simple on paper, but the stakes feel heavier with every swing in momentum.
Towns’ triple-double wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was also a playoff chess move.. Triple-doubles in the postseason tend to signal more than stat-sheet success—they often reflect a player affecting the game in multiple directions at once.. In this case. Towns’ scoring gave the Knicks traction. his rebounding provided second-chance stability. and his assists helped turn Atlanta’s defensive focus into passing lanes for teammates.
New York’s ability to lead for most of the night also changed the tenor of the crowd inside State Farm Arena.. As the Knicks pushed their advantage as high as 24 in the fourth quarter. chants of “Let’s go Knicks!” rose through the building.. The intensity eventually settled when both teams had their reserves on the floor with just over three minutes remaining. turning the closing minutes into a formality rather than a fight for survival.
Atlanta’s scoring still had recognizable anchors, even as the overall flow of the game tilted away from the Hawks.. CJ McCollum finished with 17 points for Atlanta, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 15.. Dyson Daniels pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. but in the playoffs. rebound numbers don’t always translate into wins if the pace and defensive positioning slip for long stretches.
For the Hawks, this loss will likely force a quick adjustment before Game 5.. When a team drops to a 68-44 halftime deficit. it’s rarely one thing; it’s often defensive rotation timing. shot quality. and the ability to keep stars from getting into their comfort spots.. The fact that New York protected the lead through three quarters suggests Atlanta may need to change how it approaches the Knicks’ core—especially when Towns. Anunoby. and Brunson can combine scoring with ball movement.
The timing of Towns’ breakout moment in the postseason also adds a layer of intrigue for what comes next.. The Knicks now have a recent reference point: when they play their style with cohesion—controlling the game early. stretching the lead. and distributing offense effectively—they can punish teams both through half-court execution and in the way possessions end.. If that becomes the blueprint in New York’s home environment, this series could swing again quickly.
Game 5 at Madison Square Garden will test whether the Knicks can carry this performance under even louder pressure.. The same goes for the Hawks. who will need to respond not just with better defense. but with quicker answers when New York starts to build leads.. With the series tied 2-2, neither side gets the luxury of treating the next game as routine.