The Knicks really showed up. This was the best version of the team we’ve seen. It felt like they went missing for a moment during the series, particularly after leading 2-1.
In the days leading up to this game, they emphasized needing to bring back that “sense of desperation.” And wow, did they come out strong. This wasn’t a team that wanted to play around.
They won against the Hawks 126-97 in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, now holding a 3-2 series lead. Next up: Atlanta, where they have a chance to advance to the second round.
For the second game in a row, the Knicks focused their offense around Karl-Anthony Towns, starting plays with him as the center point. This strategy, similar to Game 4, brought back some much-needed ball movement. Plus, Jalen Brunson really stepped up, scoring a game-high 39 points with impressive shooting stats—15-of-23, eight assists, and just one turnover. He opened things up for Anunoby, who also had a solid game, finishing with 17 points.
One memorable moment came with just over five minutes left in the second quarter. Brunson passed to Towns, circled around him, then stole the ball back for an easy layup that pushed the Knicks’ lead to 16. It was a perfect reflection of how fluid their offense had become.
After Towns’ triple-double in Game 4, the Hawks tried to counter by putting him against guard Dyson Daniels. Yeah, that didn’t go as planned. Towns dominated, which allowed Brunson to shine without Daniels in his way. By the second quarter, the Hawks switched it up, but it didn’t make much of a difference. Towns still ended with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
Brunson was relentless in the second half, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, making it hard for the Hawks to recover.
It took a couple of games, but the Knicks’ size advantage really became apparent. They outscored the Hawks by 18 points in the paint. Interestingly, they attempted only 26 three-pointers, significantly lower than their regular season average of 38.2, yet it had the desired effect on the Hawks.
Once the Knicks managed to shut down CJ McCollum, the Hawks struggled to find their rhythm. McCollum, who usually plays the villain in MSG, managed just six points. Johnson didn’t fare much better, even though Anunoby was guarding him.
Anunoby also recorded 10 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double, maintaining his hot streak from three-point range with 2 of 3 shooting from deep. Jose Alvarado, clearly ahead of Landry Shamet in the lineup, contributed off the bench, scoring seven points in his first six minutes on the floor in the second quarter.
Mikal Bridges, the Knicks’ first starter, was replaced by Miles McBride with around 5:49 left in the opening quarter. At that point, the Knicks were up by just one, but they quickly extended that lead to 13 by the end of the quarter. Bridges had a plus-11 rating, which was the lowest among starters, while McBride, though scoreless, posted a plus-19 rating.
In an impressive first quarter, Anunoby grabbed seven rebounds—his highest since 2020. The Knicks shot 65% from the field and 50% from three-point range, while the Hawks struggled with just 1-of-8 from deep. This strong start kept the Knicks in control throughout the game, as they held a double-digit lead after taking a 10-point advantage with 1:30 left in the first.
Brunson and Towns complemented each other well in the second quarter, adding nine and seven points respectively. Their cohesive play showcased the best version of the Knicks. This is what contender-level basketball looks like for them.
