The New York Knicks have made history — but not in the way anyone expected. In a stunning Game 6 blowout against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks set a new NBA playoff record for the largest halftime lead, going into the break up 83-36. That 47-point margin shattered the previous record of 41 points, set back in 2017 and tied just last year.

From the opening tip, New York was on fire, dropping a 40-15 first quarter and following it up with a devastating 55-10 run that buried the Hawks long before the second half. The game was already a nightmare for Atlanta, but things got even uglier with 4:39 left in the first half. As Knicks forward OG Anunoby stepped to the free-throw line, Hawks guard Dyson Daniels and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson got tangled up — and the frustration finally boiled over.

What started as a scuffle quickly escalated into a full-scale melee that spilled into the front row of fans, involving players from both teams. After a lengthy review, referees ejected both Daniels and Robinson. The league office will likely take a closer look at the footage to determine if additional suspensions are warranted — especially for the Knicks, who are eyeing a deep playoff run, and the Hawks, who now face a long offseason of questions.

For Atlanta, the fight was a flash of emotion in an otherwise one-sided series. They had no one to blame but themselves for the massive deficit, but the ejection gave them at least a moment of pride — or frustration, depending on how you see it. The Knicks, meanwhile, fed off a surprisingly loud contingent of New York fans inside State Farm Arena, keeping their foot on the gas even after the altercation.

In any other game, a bench-clearing brawl would be the headline. But in this one, it was just another ugly footnote in a record-setting beatdown.