CJ McCollum delivered a standout performance, pouring in 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks rallied to defeat the New York Knicks 107‑106 on Monday night, evening the best‑of‑seven first‑round series at one game each. The climax unfolded in the final seconds.
After McColland’s go‑ahead basket gave Atlanta a 101‑100 edge with just over two minutes left, he extended the lead to three with another jump shot. The Knicks answered through Jalen Brunson, who buried a three‑pointer to knot the score. Yet McColland answered once more, knocking down a mid‑range jumper that put the Hawks ahead 105‑103 with 33 seconds remaining.
In the ensuing possession, McColland missed two free throws, and the Knicks, with no timeouts left, pushed the ball upcourt in a last‑ditch attempt. Mikal Bridges released a shot as the buzzer sounded, but it clanged off the rim, sealing Atlanta’s comeback. Atlanta had spent the entire second half trailing, finding themselves down by 12 points after three quarters. The Hawks methodically chipped away at the deficit, capitalizing on defensive stops and second‑chance opportunities.
McColland’s scoring surge was the catalyst, but the bench also contributed significantly. Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points off the bench, while Jalen Johnson supplied 17, including a crucial bucket with ten seconds left that pushed the lead to four. The No.
6 seed in the Western Conference will host Game 3 on Thursday, hoping to build on the momentum of this narrow victory. For New York, Brunson finished with 29 points, and veteran forward Karl‑Anthony Towns contributed 18.
The Knicks are chasing a fourth consecutive second‑round appearance, which would mark their longest playoff run since the early 1990s stretch from the 1991‑92 to 1999‑2000 seasons. Yet, as Josh Hart lamented after the loss, "This is a game we should have won. In the playoffs you can't give away games." In a separate Western Conference matchup, the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied past the Denver Nuggets 119‑114, also tying their series at one‑all.
Anthony Edwards erupted for 30 points, while Julius Randle added 24 for Denver. The Nuggets, who had strung together 13 straight wins after a March 18 loss, saw their streak snap as Minnesota erased a 19‑point first‑quarter hole. The final minutes were a roller‑coaster.
With 31 seconds left, Edwards turned the ball over, and Christian Braun was fouled on the other end. Braun missed one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115‑114 with 19 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Randle sank two free throws, and Donte DiVincenzo capped the comeback with a breakaway dunk, giving the Wolves a five‑point cushion.
Denver’s star duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic combined for 54 points (30 and 24 respectively), but they shot a dismal 2‑for‑12 from the field in the fourth quarter, managing only four points as the Timberwolves forced a tie. Historically, the Nuggets have won every series in which they capture the first two games (8‑0), while the Wolves have never won a series after dropping the opening two contests (0‑8). Murray’s half‑court three‑pointer at the halftime buzzer tied the game at 64, and Jokic responded with a 16‑point third quarter that briefly gave Denver a 93‑90 lead.
Edwards showed noticeable improvement over his 22‑point effort in Game 1, attacking the rim more aggressively and shedding the rust from a lingering knee issue. Minnesota out‑rebounded Denver on second‑chance opportunities 20‑3, turning early adversity into a 64‑56 lead before Denver closed the first half with an eight‑point run. Murray, who missed all eight of his three‑point attempts in the series opener, started this game with a three‑pointer and was five‑for‑seven from beyond the arc before halftime.
He also executed two four‑point plays in the opening quarter, drawing fouls from Ayo Dosunmu each time. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominance over the Toronto Raptors, securing a 115‑105 victory to take a 2‑0 series lead. The Cavaliers’ trio of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley each poured in at least 25 points, a feat achieved only four times in franchise history.
Mitchell contributed 30 points, shooting efficiently from three and adding seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 37 minutes. Harden supplied 28 points and showcased his defensive prowess with four steals in the second half. Mobley, the young big man, recorded a team‑high eight rebounds and scored 25 points on 11‑of‑13 shooting, demonstrating his two‑way impact.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson praised the trio, saying, "This was a superstar game. Those three led us. They hit the big shots.
James had four steals in the second half, so excellent defensively. Evan was really good on defense and Don just made some out‑of‑this‑world, incredible shots. That's why they're stars." The fourth quarter saw Mitchell surge with nine points, including a seven‑point streak that helped the Cavs stretch the lead to 106‑90 with just over three minutes left. He capped the performance with a slick 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds remaining.
Harden, shooting 9‑of‑14 from the field, added five rebounds, four assists, and a block, while also moving past Rajon Rondo for seventh place on the all‑time postseason assists leaderboard with 1,139 assists. Defensively, Mobley forced Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili to alter his shot in the paint, and Harden recorded a crucial steal with 4:02 left, marking his fourth career playoff game with at least five steals. Overall, Monday night delivered a wealth of drama across three first‑round series. The Hawks’ comeback highlighted the unpredictable nature of playoff basketball, while the Timberwolves demonstrated resilience against a historically dominant Nuggets team.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, continued to assert their superiority in the East, leveraging the collective firepower of Mitchell, Harden, and Mobley. Fans can look forward to Game 3 in Atlanta, Game 3 in Minneapolis, and Game 3 in Cleveland as the postseason narrative unfolds. For those wanting to follow the action live, NBA games are available on Sky Sports and Sky Sports+.
The next marquee matchup features the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the Boston Celtics, scheduled to air on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.