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, tying the best‑of‑seven first‑round matchup at one win each. The climax was dramatic: McCollum missed two free throws with just 5.6 seconds left, but the Knicks, having exhausted all timeouts, rushed a final possession that fell short when Mikal Bridges failed to convert a last‑second jumper. Atlanta had spent the entire second half trailing, finding themselves down by 12 points after three quarters.
Yet the Hawks methodically chipped away at the deficit. A crucial basket by McCollum gave Atlanta a 101-100 advantage with 2:09 remaining – their first lead of the night in the second half. He then knocked down another shot to push the lead to three.
When Jalen Brunson answered with a three‑pointer to knot the score, McCollum responded with a mid‑range jumper, restoring a 105-103 margin with just 33 seconds on the clock. Off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points, while Jalen Johnson added 17, including a decisive bucket with ten seconds left that stretched the lead to four. The No.
6 seed Hawks will host Game 3 on Thursday, hoping to capitalize on the momentum. For New York, Brunson tallied 29 points and Karl‑Anthony Towns added 18, but the Knicks fell short of extending their streak of second‑round appearances to a fourth consecutive year – a run not seen since the early 1990s.
In other action, the Minnesota Timberwolves matched the Denver Nuggets 119-114, evening their Western Conference series at 1-1. Anthony Edwards erupted for 30 points, and Julius Randle supplied 24 as Minnesota erased a 19‑point first‑quarter hole and a 13‑point deficit late in the game. Denver, which had enjoyed a 13‑game winning streak before the loss, saw its star duo, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, struggle in the fourth quarter, combining for just two of twelve shots. The Wolves’ comeback featured a pivotal sequence: with 31 seconds left, Edwards turned the ball over, but Christian Braun was fouled and missed one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115-114.
After a timeout, Randle calmly sank two free throws, and Donte DiVincenzo finished with a breakaway dunk, sealing the comeback. Murray’s night included a spectacular 51‑foot three‑pointer at the halftime buzzer that tied the game at 64, but his shooting fell off after a quiet start, managing only four points in the fourth.
Jokic, who posted 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, was also quiet in the final period, contributing just four points as the Nuggets were outscored 22-4 after the break. Minnesota’s victory was fueled by aggressive second‑chance scoring – the Wolves outscored Denver 20-3 on those opportunities – and a more assertive approach from Edwards, who attacked the rim more often than in Game 1, where a sore knee had limited his effectiveness. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominant start by beating the Toronto Raptors 115-105, taking a 2-0 series lead. The Cavs’ trio of stars – Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley – each posted at least 25 points, marking only the fourth time in franchise history that three players have reached that mark in a playoff game.
Mitchell was the engine, scoring 30 points on efficient shooting, adding four three‑pointers, seven rebounds, five assists and a steal in 37 minutes. Harden contributed 28 points and demonstrated his defensive acumen with four steals in the second half, while Mobley recorded a team‑high eight rebounds and 25 points on 11‑of‑13 shooting.
Their balanced attack allowed Cleveland to build a 106-90 lead late in the fourth quarter, with Mitchell scoring nine of his points in that period, including a streak of seven straight points that put the game out of reach. Coach Kenny Atkinson praised the performance, noting the “superstar” level of his top three, and highlighted Harden’s defensive impact – the veteran moved past Rajon Rondo to become seventh all‑time in postseason assists with 1,139. Defensive synergy was evident as Mobley forced Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili into a contested shot, and Harden capped a crucial defensive sequence with a steal at the 4:02 mark. These games illustrate the intensity of the 2026 NBA playoffs, where every possession can swing a series.
The Hawks will look to leverage their home‑court advantage in Game 3 against the Knicks, while the Timberwolves aim to capitalize on their newfound confidence against the Nuggets. In the East, the Cavaliers seek to maintain their early dominance over Toronto, and the Knicks hope to rebound from a missed opportunity to extend their postseason streak. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups including the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Boston Celtics on Sky Sports+ at 11 p.m.
on Tuesday.