The player who nearly spoiled what could have been the best winning streak in NBA playoff history is now impressed by the Knicks’ current 13-game run.
Hawks standout CJ McCollum, who seemed poised to be the Knicks’ next major playoff rival after a strong start in their first-round matchup, sent a message showcasing a memorable jump shot that secured a 109-108 win for the Hawks on April 23.
“I’m sick,” McCollum posted on X early Saturday. “From that moment on, the Knicks became a different team.”
After the Hawks snatched Game 2 of their series against New York, McCollum stirred up the Madison Square Garden crowd with his big shots and bold gestures. He then delivered the decisive basket in Game 3, giving the Hawks a 2-1 advantage.
Since that point, the Knicks have been on a roll, securing three consecutive victories, overpowering the Hawks, and dominating teams like the 76ers and Cavaliers. They’ve now taken a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, following back-to-back wins in San Antonio.
Meanwhile, McCollum’s performance slipped during the last three games of the Knicks-Hawks series. His former Trail Blazers teammate, Josh Hart, stepped up defensively against him, and McCollum ended up averaging just 11.3 points while shooting 39.5 percent over those games.
McCollum had been in contention to join the ranks of playoff antagonists for the Knicks, alongside names like Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, P.J. Brown, and Trae Young.
The Knicks’ last possession during their recent defeat wrapped up with a turnover by Jalen Brunson. Remarkably, despite having two off nights in the Finals, Brunson became the first player since at least 1971 to score the winning point in the final two minutes of consecutive games, as reported by ESPN.
In a tense moment late in Game 2, after De’Aaron Fox fouled along the sideline, he tried to provoke Brunson, but Brunson maintained his composure. His father, Rick Brunson, an assistant coach for the Knicks, was visibly animated by the whole exchange.
