CJ McCollum delivered another clutch performance in the dying seconds, lifting the Atlanta Hawks to a 109-108 victory over the Modern York Knicks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. With the Hawks leading 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup, McCollum’s fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining proved decisive, continuing his pattern of late-game heroics against New York.
The victory came after the Hawks built an 18-point lead in the first half, only to see the Knicks rally for a 108-105 edge on Jalen Brunson’s three-point play with 1:03 left. Following a basket by Jalen Johnson, Josh Hart missed a three-pointer for New York. Although the Knicks secured the offensive rebound, they failed to acquire off a shot before the 24-second clock expired. Brunson then turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, sealing the Hawks’ win.
McCollum finished with 23 points, while Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 24 points and Jonathan Kuminga contributed 21 off the bench. For New York, OG Anunoby paced the team with 29 points, Brunson added 26, and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 21. Hawks coach Quin Snyder praised the shot as “a great shot” but emphasized the collective effort: “They work, they share. That’s the thing about this group that I’ve enjoyed so much.” Knicks coach Mike Brown lamented the missed opportunity, saying, “You couldn’t request for anything better than that. Less than a minute to go in the game and a chance to go up by three.”
Meanwhile, in another first-round series, the Toronto Maple Leafs reopened their playoff matchup against the Ottawa Senators with a 4-2 victory in Game 3. Auston Matthews scored twice, including the go-ahead goal midway through the third period, while William Nylander added a goal and an assist. Joseph Woll made 28 saves in net for Toronto, which now trails the series 2-1 after dropping the first two games in Ottawa. Senators’ Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson each scored for Ottawa, but the Leafs’ late surge shifted momentum.
In Western Conference action, the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed the Denver Nuggets 122-98 in Game 3 of their series, taking a 2-1 lead. Anthony Edwards exploded for 38 points, including seven three-pointers, while Rudy Gobert dominated inside with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks. Nikola Jokić managed 18 points and 10 assists for Denver, but the Nuggets shot just 38% from the field and were outrebounded 52-31. Minnesota’s defense held Denver to under 100 points for the second time in the series, and the Timberwolves’ bench outscored Denver’s reserves 35-12.
The Hawks will look to close out the series in Game 4 on Saturday in Atlanta, while the Maple Leafs aim to even their series in Game 4 back in Toronto. The Timberwolves seek to extend their lead when they host the Nuggets in Game 4 on Friday night.
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