In a thrilling first‑round showdown, the Atlanta Hawks edged the New York Knicks 107-106 on Monday night, evening the best‑of‑seven series at one game each. The decisive performance came from CJ McCollum, who poured in 32 points and sparked a late rally that ultimately secured the victory for Atlanta.
The climax was a nail‑biter. With just 5.6 seconds left on the clock, McCollum missed two free throws that could have sealed the win outright. The Knicks, down to their final possession and with no timeouts remaining, pushed the ball up the court in a desperate attempt to win.
However, Mikal Bridges missed a final‑second jumper, sending the game into the Hawks' favor. Atlanta had spent the entire second half trailing, finding themselves down by 12 points after the third quarter.
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 in the second half. He then knocked down another shot to stretch the margin to three points. When Jalen Brunson answered with a three‑pointer to knot the score, McCollum responded with a mid‑range jumper, putting Atlanta up 105-103 with just 33 seconds remaining. Off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points, while Jalen Johnson added 17, including a go‑ahead bucket with ten seconds left that forced the Knicks into a four‑point hole.
The No. 6 seed Hawks now head into Game 3 on Thursday with the momentum of a hard‑won win. For New York, Brunson tallied 29 points and Karl‑Anthony Towns added 18, but the Knicks fell short of extending their streak of postseason appearances to a fourth consecutive year – a run that would match their longest stretch since the early 1990s.
In other league action, the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame the Denver Nuggets 119-114, also tying their series at 1-1. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 30 points, while Julius Randle supplied 24.
Denver, which had enjoyed a 13‑game winning streak before the playoffs, saw its momentum stall as the Wolves erased a 19‑point first‑quarter hole. The game featured several dramatic moments. With 31 seconds left, Edwards turned the ball over, and Christian Braun was fouled on the opposite end. Braun missed one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115-114 with 19 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, Randle calmly sank two free throws, and Donte DiVincenzo finished the comeback with a breakaway dunk, capping Minnesota’s surge after a sluggish start. Jamal Murray posted 30 points for Denver, and Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. However, the All‑Star duo struggled in the fourth quarter, shooting a combined 2‑for‑12 and providing only four points as the Wolves forced a tie in the series. Historically, the Nuggets have been perfect (8‑0) when they win the first two games of a playoff series, while Minnesota has never won a series after dropping the opening two contests (0‑8).
Murray’s highlight reel included a 51‑foot three‑pointer at the halftime buzzer that tied the game at 64. Jokic found his rhythm in the third quarter, dropping 16 points to give Denver a 93-90 edge.
Edwards, who had struggled with a sore knee in Game 1, showed marked improvement, attacking the rim more aggressively and relying less on perimeter shots. Minnesota’s second‑chance scoring (20‑3) proved decisive, as they turned a 19‑point early deficit into a 64-56 lead before Denver answered with an eight‑point run to close the half.
Murray, who missed all eight of his three‑point attempts in the series opener, started the second game strong, hitting five of seven from beyond the arc before the break and adding two four‑point plays in the first quarter, both fouled by Ayo Dosunmu. In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominance over the Toronto Raptors, winning 115-105 to take a 2-0 series lead. The Cavaliers’ trio of stars—Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley—combined for a spectacular performance that underscored their postseason pedigree.
Mitchell erupted for 30 points, connecting on four three‑pointers while also contributing seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 37 minutes. Harden added 28 points and was a defensive catalyst, recording four steals in the second half and moving past Rajon Rondo for seventh place on the all‑time postseason assists list with 1,139.
Mobley, the defensive anchor, pulled down a team‑high eight rebounds and scored efficiently on 11‑of‑13 shooting. Coach Kenny Atkinson praised the trio, calling it “a superstar game” and highlighting their ability to hit big shots and make pivotal defensive plays. The Cavaliers made history, marking the fourth time in franchise lore that three players have each scored at least 25 points in a playoff contest. The fourth quarter saw Mitchell pour in nine points, including a run of seven straight, as Cleveland built a commanding 106-90 lead with just over three minutes left.
He capped the night with a slick 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds remaining. Harden’s all‑around effort included nine of 14 field goals, five rebounds, four assists, and a block, while Mobley’s defensive presence forced Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili into a contested shot in the paint. These games set the stage for the next round of excitement, with the Hawks hosting Game 3 against the Knicks, the Timberwolves returning to Minneapolis for their next showdown with Denver, and the Cavaliers looking to close out the Raptors series. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups including the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Boston Celtics on Sky Sports+.