The Atlanta Hawks staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the New York Knicks 107-106, tying their playoff series at one game apiece. CJ McCollum led the charge with 32 points, including crucial baskets in the final minutes of the game. Despite being down by 12 points after three quarters, the Hawks managed to rally and secure the win.
McCollum's performance was complemented by Jonathan Kuminga's 19 points off the bench and Jalen Johnson's 17 points. The Knicks, who were seeking to reach the second round for a fourth consecutive season, were led by Jalen Brunson's 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns' 18 points.
In another exciting matchup, the Minnesota Timberwolves tied their Western Conference playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 119-114 win. Anthony Edwards scored 30 points, and Julius Randle added 24 points to lead the Timberwolves' comeback from a 19-point first-quarter deficit. The Nuggets' dynamic duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic combined for 54 points, but their team ultimately fell short.
The Cleveland Cavaliers also secured a crucial win, defeating the Toronto Raptors 115-105 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, while James Harden and Evan Mobley made significant contributions on both ends of the floor, with Harden adding five steals and Mobley scoring 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting.