/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.basketusa.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F04%2Fbrunson-hawks.jpg "NBA Playoffs: New York Knicks Defeat Atlanta Hawks Led by Brunson and Towns")
New York — Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 58 points as the New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 108-96 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The victory gave the third-seeded Knicks a 1-0 series lead over the sixth-seeded Hawks, setting the tone for what promises to be a hard-fought matchup.
Brunson finished with 28 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds, while Towns added 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Their inside-outside partnership proved too much for Atlanta to handle, particularly in the second half when New York outscored the Hawks 60-42 after halftime.
The Knicks built their lead through balanced scoring and disciplined defense. After a tight first quarter that ended 26-24 in favor of New York, Brunson took over in the second period, scoring 12 of his points before halftime to aid stretch the lead to 54-47. Towns dominated the paint early, finishing with 15 points in the first half as New York shot 52 percent from the field before the break.
Atlanta countered with Trae Young’s usual brilliance — he finished with 26 points and 9 assists — but the Hawks shot just 41 percent from the field and were held to 38 percent from three-point range. Dejounte Murray added 19 points and 6 rebounds, but the Hawks struggled to get consistent contributions beyond their backcourt duo.
New York’s bench provided a spark, with OG Anunoby contributing 14 points and 5 rebounds off the bench, including several timely three-pointers that kept Atlanta’s defense honest. Josh Hart added 10 points and 8 rebounds, continuing his role as the Knicks’ energetic glue guy.
The turning point came midway through the third quarter when New York went on a 14-2 run to extend their lead from 68-60 to 82-62. Brunson hit two mid-range jumpers during the stretch, while Towns finished two alley-oops and blocked a shot at the rim. Atlanta never got closer than 10 points after that.
Defensively, New York held Atlanta to just 16 points in the fourth quarter, the fewest the Hawks have scored in a quarter since March. Mitchell Robinson anchored the interior with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks, altering multiple shots and deterring drives into the paint.
For the Hawks, the loss exposed some familiar playoff vulnerabilities. Atlanta turned the ball over 15 times, which New York converted into 20 points. The Hawks also struggled to defend the pick-and-roll, a staple of Brunson’s game, allowing him to either score or find open shooters repeatedly.
After the game, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s execution. “We stuck to our game plan,” Thibodeau said. “Jalen and KAT were tremendous, but it was the team effort that made the difference. We defended, we rebounded, and we got stops when we needed them.”
Hawks coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the challenge posed by New York’s two stars. “They made it difficult on us,” Snyder said. “Brunson was relentless, and Towns controlled the paint. We’ve got to be better at limiting second-chance points and making them work for everything.”
The Knicks improved to 8-2 in their last 10 playoff games dating back to last year’s run to the Eastern Conference semifinals. New York now holds a 3-2 advantage in the all-time playoff series against Atlanta, having won two of the last three meetings.
For Atlanta, the loss drops them to 0-2 in their last five playoff road games. The Hawks will glance to adjust in Game 2, particularly by getting more involvement from Clint Capela, who finished with just 6 points and 5 rebounds despite drawing significant defensive attention.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at Madison Square Garden, with tipoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET (00:00 UTC). The series then shifts to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4 on April 24 and 26, respectively.
As the playoffs continue, the Brunson-Towns duo has emerged as New York’s most potent weapon. Their ability to score efficiently from all three levels — Brunson’s mid-range mastery and Towns’ inside-out versatility — presents a matchup nightmare for most opponents.
For now, the Knicks celebrate a strong start. But with the Hawks known for their resilience and offensive firepower, New York knows the work is far from over.
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