NBA Playoffs: Hawks Stage Stunning Comeback to Tie Series with Knicks

In a thrilling turnaround, CJ McCollum's 32 points propelled the Atlanta Hawks to a 107-106 victory over the New York Knicks, evening their playoff series at one game each. McCollum spearheaded a late surge, although his two missed free throws with 5.6 seconds left nearly cost the Hawks. The Knicks' last-ditch effort fell short as Mikal Bridges' jumper failed to find the mark as time expired. The Hawks, who had trailed the entire second half and were down by 12 after three quarters, chipped away and took their first lead in the series' second half with 2:09 to play. Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points off the bench, and Jalen Johnson scored 17, including a crucial basket with 10 seconds left. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson had 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 18. The Knicks are striving to reach the second round for the fourth consecutive season, their longest playoff stretch since the 1991-92 to 1999-2000 seasons. In another matchup, Anthony Edwards scored 30 points, and Julius Randle added 24 as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied past the Denver Nuggets 119-114 to tie their Western Conference playoff series. The Nuggets had won 13 straight games prior to the loss. Edwards' performance was instrumental in overcoming a 19-point first-quarter deficit. Jamal Murray scored 30 points, and Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists for the Nuggets. However, their usually potent duo managed only four points in the fourth quarter, shooting a combined two for 12. The Timberwolves evened the best-of-seven series, which shifts to Minneapolis for game three. Donovan Mitchell, meanwhile, continued his postseason scoring prowess, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-105 win over the Toronto Raptors for a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Mitchell scored 30 points, including four three-pointers, and had seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal. James Harden added 28 points and made significant defensive contributions with five steals. Evan Mobley had a team-high eight rebounds and scored 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting, highlighting the Cavaliers' strong team performance.