The New York Knicks are on the brink of advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs, holding a 3-2 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks in their Eastern Conference first-round matchup. Game 6 is set to tip off in Atlanta, and the Knicks have momentum on their side after a dominant 126-97 victory in Game 5.
Jalen Brunson was the star of that win, pouring in 39 points to lead New York to a commanding performance. For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson managed 18 points, but it wasn't enough to keep pace. Now, Atlanta faces elimination on their home court.
The regular-season records tell the story of two teams with contrasting strengths. The Hawks finished 46-36, sixth in the East, and were tough in conference play at 27-25. They've also shown resilience in close games, going 7-8 in contests decided by three points or fewer. Meanwhile, the Knicks posted a stellar 53-29 record, third in the conference, and were even better against Eastern foes at 35-17. New York's rebounding has been a key weapon—they rank seventh in the NBA with 45.6 boards per game, anchored by Karl-Anthony Towns, who averages 11.9 rebounds.
On the court, the Hawks shoot 47.4% from the field, slightly above the 46.0% the Knicks allow. But New York's three-point shooting could be the difference-maker: they average 14.2 made threes per game, while Atlanta gives up 12.9. That extra firepower from beyond the arc has been a consistent edge for the Knicks all season.
For Atlanta, Dyson Daniels has been a steady contributor with 11.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while CJ McCollum has stepped up recently, averaging 18.7 points over the last 10 games. On the Knicks' side, Brunson leads the charge with 26.0 points per game, and OG Anunoby has been lights out from deep, hitting 2.7 three-pointers per game in his last 10 outings.
Looking at recent form, the Hawks have struggled, going 4-6 in their last 10 games and allowing 114.9 points per game. The Knicks, however, are heating up at the perfect time, posting a 7-3 record in that stretch and holding opponents to just 102.5 points per game. With their defense tightening and Brunson playing at an MVP-caliber level, New York looks poised to close out the series and advance to the next round.