Knicks Dominate Hawks in Game 6

ATLANTA — The Knicks made their victory feel almost effortless, reminiscent of a preseason game.

It’s surreal to think back, but there was a moment in this series when the Knicks seemed to be struggling. Yet, by the end, the Hawks looked completely outmatched.

The Knicks had them firmly under control and, in a way, bullied them.

What transpired was truly humbling for the Hawks.

There was absolutely no sign of hope for them. Honestly, I never thought they’d pull off a Game 7, and the Knicks made sure of that. They marked their best season by routing the Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 at State Farm Arena on Thursday night, sealing the series and moving on to the next round against either the Celtics or the 76ers, who are facing off in a Game 7 this Saturday.

The show of dominance was historic.

• They led by 47 points at halftime, which set a record for the largest halftime lead in postseason history.
• After three quarters, they were ahead by 53 points, another postseason record.
• The 61-point lead in the third quarter was the biggest postseason lead in the franchise’s history.
• With 140 points scored, the Knicks achieved their highest total in a playoff game.

“It shows what we can do,” said Josh Hart. “We need to build on this momentum. We can’t afford to get complacent, because we now know we can do it.”

“This just shows the strength of our team, our players, and our coaching staff.”

The Knicks ended the first quarter with a remarkable 31-4 run and entered the second quarter up by 25 points. The Hawks seemed to give up completely. The Knicks continued with a 32-7 run, extending their lead to 50 points. The score in the second quarter was astonishing: 63-11. By the end of the third quarter, they were able to rest their starters.

It was almost comical—like facing off against tanks in the season’s final stretch. Even those games are typically more competitive.

“I feel great tonight,” said Jalen Brunson. “But tomorrow, we’ve got to refocus. Sure, we can celebrate this win, but we need to move forward. The next day starts fresh.”

There was little left for the Hawks but to try and provoke the Knicks. Unfortunately for them, Mitchell Robinson took the bait.

During a free throw by OG Anunoby in the second quarter, Dyson Daniels grabbed Robinson’s arm. In response, Robinson retaliated, and Onyeka Okongwu tried to intervene, leading to a brawl.

Players and coaches rushed in to separate them, but Robinson kept trying to get back into the action. Knicks coach Mike Brown stumbled while trying to intervene. Even referee Kevin Scott found himself on the ground amid the chaos.

Both Robinson and Daniels received technical fouls and were ejected, with three players from the Hawks also receiving technicals during that quarter.

Anunoby was a standout for the Knicks, netting 10 of his 15 points right off the bat and finishing with 26 points by halftime, shooting 11-of-14 from the field and hitting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, along with seven rebounds.

The Hawks had little to offer in terms of resistance, allowing even Mikal Bridges—who struggled earlier in the series—to gain some much-needed confidence by scoring 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting.

Despite only having one field goal, Karl-Anthony Towns managed 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for a triple-double, making him the first Knick to notch multiple triple-doubles in the same series—along with the legendary Walt Frazier.

Brunson contributed 17 points and eight assists, while Hart added 14 points. The Knicks also showcased their defense with 16 steals and six blocks.

In a small highlight for Hawks fans, Nickell Alexander-Walker was named the Most Valuable Player just before the game started. That was about the only thing they could cheer for as they faced the impending defeat.

It’s a bit hard to believe there was a time when the Knicks were up 2-1 in the series. In the following three games, they outscored the Hawks by a staggering 96 points.

Clearly, they are peaking at the right moment.

“The connection among our guys right now is incredible,” Brown noted. “If you can maintain that level of detail with such a talented and versatile group, good things can happen.”