CJ McCollum delivered a standout performance, dropping 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks rallied to edge the New York Knicks 107-106 on Monday night, evening the best‑of‑seven series at one win each. The climax of the contest saw McCollum miss two free throws with 5.6 seconds left, but the Knicks, forced to sprint the ball up the floor without any timeouts, could not capitalize. Mikal Bridges’ final jumper fell short as the buzzer sounded, sealing the Hawks' dramatic 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, and a crucial basket by McCollum gave them a 101-100 lead with 2:09 remaining – their first lead of the night after falling behind early in the second half.
He then knocked down another shot to extend the margin to three. After Jalen Brunson answered with a three‑pointer to knot the score, McCollum responded with a mid‑range jumper, pushing the Hawks ahead 105-103 with just 33 seconds left on the clock.
Bench contributor Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points, while Jalen Johnson supplied 17, including a decisive bucket with ten seconds remaining that cemented a four‑point advantage for the No. 6 seed from the Western Conference. The Hawks will host Game 3 on Thursday, looking to build on the momentum of their comeback.
For New York, Jalen Brunson tallied 29 points and Karl‑Anthony Towns chipped in 18, but the Knicks fell short of extending their streak of playoff appearances to a fourth consecutive year – a run that would match their longest stretch from the early 1990s through the 2000 season. In other NBA action, the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards' 30‑point outburst and Julius Randle's 24, rallied past the Denver Nuggets 119-114, also tying their Western Conference series at one game apiece. Denver had been on a 13‑game winning streak before the loss, which snapped that run. 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 both free throws, and Donte DiVincenzo finished the comeback with a breakaway dunk, erasing a 19‑point first‑quarter hole. Jamal Murray contributed 30 points for Denver, while Nikola Jokic posted a double‑double with 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
However, the All‑Star duo struggled from deep, combining for just two makes on 12 attempts in the fourth quarter, which limited the Nuggets to a paltry four points as the Wolves forced a tie and shifted the series to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday night. Denver’s history in the playoffs is notable – the Nuggets have never lost a series after winning the first two games, standing at 8‑0 in such situations. Conversely, the Timberwolves have never won a series after dropping the opening two contests, remaining 0‑8 in that category. Murray’s half‑court three‑pointer at the halftime buzzer tied the game at 64, showcasing his range.
Jokic found his rhythm in the third quarter, pouring in 16 points as Denver briefly reclaimed a 93-90 lead. Edwards, who had been hampered by a sore knee in Game 1 and managed only 22 points, came out more aggressive, attacking the rim more often rather than relying solely on jump shots.
Minnesota out‑rebounded Denver on second‑chance opportunities, scoring 20 to the Nuggets' three, and erased an early 19‑point gap to seize a 64-56 advantage before Denver rallied to close the first half with an eight‑point run. Murray, who missed all eight of his three‑point attempts in the series opener, started the night strong, making a three and shooting 5‑of‑7 from beyond the arc before the break. In the opening quarter, he completed two four‑point plays, drawing fouls from Ayo Dosunmu on both occasions.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominance over the Toronto Raptors, winning 115-105 to take a 2-0 lead in the first round. Coach Kenny Atkinson praised his trio of stars – Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley – for delivering in clutch moments. "This was a superstar game. Those three led us," Atkinson said.
"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." Mitchell posted 30 points, including four three‑pointers, and contributed seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 37 minutes. Harden added 28 points and showcased his defensive prowess with five steals, while Mobley recorded a team‑high eight rebounds and 25 points on an efficient 11‑of‑13 shooting display.
The Cavaliers’ performance marked the fourth time in franchise history that at least three players have each scored 25 or more points in a playoff game. Mitchell’s fourth‑quarter surge – nine points, including seven straight – helped the Cavs stretch the lead to 106-90 with just over three minutes left. He capped the night with a highlight‑reel 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds remaining. Harden’s shooting was solid, going 9‑of‑14 from the field, and he added five rebounds, four assists, and a block.
His defensive contributions pushed him past Rajon Rondo for seventh place on the all‑time postseason assists list, now at 1,139. On the defensive end, Mobley forced Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili to alter a shot in the paint, and Harden recorded another crucial steal with 4:02 left, marking his fourth career playoff game with at least five steals. Overall, Monday night delivered a wealth of excitement across multiple series, with both underdogs and favorites producing memorable moments. The Hawks and Timberwolves each forced a tie in their respective series, while the Cavaliers solidified their advantage in the East.
Fans can look forward to more high‑stakes basketball as the playoffs progress, with upcoming matchups including the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Boston Celtics on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.