NEW YORK, NY — The New York Knicks put on one of the most dominating playoff performances in franchise history Thursday night, overwhelming the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 to close out their first-round series on the road to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
From the opening tip, New York imposed its will on both ends of the floor. A three-pointer from Jalen Brunson set the tone, and the Knicks’ quickly turned the game into a rout behind suffocating defense and red-hot shooting. By the end of the first quarter, New York had built a staggering 40-15 lead, fueled by a 31-4 run that left the Atlanta crowd stunned.
OG Anunoby spearheaded the early surge, scoring 14 points in the opening quarter and finished with a game-high 29 on 11-of-14 shooting. His efficiency and two-way impact were emblematic of a Knicks team that appeared locked in from start to finish.
“We were locked in, man,” said Josh Hart, dropping 14 points with five boards and two assists. “We were focused on having great attention to detail, coming out and closing the game out.”
The Knicks’ dominance extended well beyond Anunoby and Hart. Mikal Bridges added 24 points on 10-of-12, shooting his best game of the series, while Brunson orchestrated the offense with 17 points and eight assists. Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a triple-double—12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists—the Dominican-American’s second-career playoff triple-double, continuing his all-around brilliance throughout the series, which featured his first-career playoff triple double in Game 4.
Listed seven-foot and 248 lbs, the 30-year-old joined Wilt Chamberlain (9) as the only seven-footers in NBA history with multiple postseason triple-doubles—stat courtesy of ESPN Insights.
“I just wanted to answer the call,” he said of his first round series dominance, also becoming the second-ever Knick to have multiple postseason triple-doubles. “You ask for the opportunities and they obliged and I got to repay that trust and that opportunity. I just wanted to (make) an impact on winning.”
New York’s defense was equally impressive, forcing 19 turnovers which many converted into easy transition opportunities. Atlanta was never able to find their rhythm offensively, shooting just 37.8% from the field and falling behind by as many as 61 points.
Head coach Mike Brown credited his team’s preparation and growth throughout the series, while also acknowledging Atlanta’s role in pushing them to improve.
“Quin and his staff… they helped us get better,” Brown said, referring to Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “And I think they would say the same about us.”
The Hawks pushed the Knicks to six games in their first-round playoff matchup, falling to New York in Game 6 which ended the best of seven series (4-2) – Image Credit: NBA
Brown also praised Bridges’ performance, emphasizing his aggressiveness and defensive presence, stating, “He just did what he’s capable of doing… his defense was phenomenal, and his rebounding was big for us.”
The only blemish on an otherwise dominant night came when center Mitchell Robinson was involved in a second-quarter altercation after returning from a brief injury scare. Brown acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining composure in a lopsided game.
“It’s tough because when you’re up big, stuff happens,” he said. “It’s hard to keep your composure in that moment.”
Despite the incident, the Knicks never lost focus, extending their lead throughout the second half and eventually emptying the bench as the outcome became inevitable.
For Atlanta, the loss marked a disappointing end to the series and to their 2025-2026 season, finishing their regular season campaign at 46-36 after going 40-42 a year prior. Snyder praised New York’s performance, noting the gap that became evident as the matchup progressed.
“As the series progressed, you could see what a really good team they are and why they’re a contender,” Snyder said. “We didn’t have an answer for that tonight.”
With the victory, the Knicks advance to the second round for the fourth consecutive season, carrying significant momentum after a performance that showcased their ceiling as a championship-caliber team.
In the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Knicks will play the winner of Philadelphia-Boston as the 76ers and Celtics play Game 7 of their first-round series this coming Saturday – Image Credit: NBA
In their second round matchup, New York’s opponent is still to be determined between the 76ers and Celtics as Philadelphia and Boston will battle in a first-round Game 7 scheduled for this Saturday, May 2nd.
“We wanted to play desperate,” Bridges said of the team’s Game 6 performance. “We couldn’t let them get confidence, especially at home.”
If Thursday night was any indication, New York is not just advancing—they’re arriving as a serious threat in the Eastern Conference.
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