In a dramatic showdown on Monday night, the Atlanta Hawks managed to pull off a stunning 107-106 victory over the New York Knicks, tying their first‑round playoff series at one win each. The hero of the night was CJ McCollum, who poured in 32 points and sparked a late rally that ultimately decided the game. The contest remained tightly contested throughout, with the Knicks holding a slim advantage as the final seconds ticked away.
With just 5.6 seconds left, McCollum stepped to the line and missed two free throws, giving New York a chance to seal the win. The Knicks quickly advanced the ball up the court, but they had exhausted all their timeouts.
In the ensuing play, Mikal Bridges attempted a final shot, but the ball bounced out as the buzzer sounded, cementing Atlanta's comeback. Atlanta had spent most of the second half trailing, finding themselves down by 12 points after three quarters. However, the Hawks chipped away at the deficit, and McCollum's basket gave them a 101-100 lead with 2:09 remaining – the first lead the team had held in the second half of the series.
He then knocked down another jumper to stretch the margin to three. When Jalen Brunson answered with a three‑pointer to knot the score, McCollum responded with yet another shot, pushing the Hawks ahead 105-103 with just 33 seconds remaining. Off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points, while Jalen Johnson added 17, including a decisive basket with 10 seconds left that put Atlanta up by four. The No.
6 seed from the Western Conference will host Game 3 on Thursday, looking to capitalize on the momentum they have generated. For the Knicks, Brunson finished with 29 points and Karl‑Anthony Towns added 18, but the effort fell short.
New York is aiming to reach the second round for a fourth consecutive year – a stretch they have not achieved since the early 1990s. After the game, Knicks guard Josh Hart lamented, "This is a game we should have won.
In the playoffs you can't give away games." The night also featured action from the Western Conference, where the Minnesota Timberwolves edged the Denver Nuggets 119-114, tying their series at one game apiece. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 30 points, while Julius Randle supplied 24 for the Wolves. Denver, which had won 13 straight games prior to the loss, fought back but ultimately could not hold on. Key moments included Edwards turning the ball over with 31 seconds left, and Christian Braun missing one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115-114.
After a timeout, Randle sank two free throws and Donte DiVincenzo finished with a breakaway dunk, sealing the comeback after a 19‑point first‑quarter hole. Jamal Murray posted 30 points for Denver, and Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists.
However, the All‑Star duo went a dismal 2‑for‑12 from the floor in the fourth quarter, scoring only four points as the Wolves forced a series‑leveling win that shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday night. Historically, Denver has never lost a series after winning the first two games (8‑0), while Minnesota has never won a series after dropping the first two (0‑8). Murray’s half‑court three‑pointer at the halftime buzzer tied the game at 64, and Jokic surged in the third quarter with 16 points, giving the Nuggets a 93-90 edge. Edwards showed marked improvement from his 22‑point performance in Game 1, attacking the basket more aggressively and reducing his reliance on jump shots.
Minnesota outscored Denver 20‑3 on second‑chance opportunities and erased a 19‑point early deficit, briefly leading 64‑56 before Denver reclaimed the lead at the half. Murray, who missed all eight of his three‑point attempts in the opener, started the night strong, hitting five of seven from beyond the arc before halftime and delivering two four‑point plays in the first quarter, both fouled by Ayo Dosunmu.
The Cleveland Cavaliers also made headlines, beating the Toronto Raptors 115‑105 to take a 2‑0 lead in their Eastern Conference series. Star guard Donovan Mitchell contributed 30 points, four three‑pointers, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 37 minutes. James Harden added 28 points and demonstrated his defensive prowess with four steals in the second half.
Evan Mobley recorded a team‑high eight rebounds and scored 25 points on 11‑of‑13 shooting. Cavaliers 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 really good defensively and Don just made some out‑of‑this‑world, incredible shots.
That's why they're stars." It marked only the fourth time in franchise history that Cleveland has had three players each score at least 25 points in a playoff game. Mitchell’s fourth‑quarter surge, which included nine points and a stretch of seven straight, helped the Cavs build a 106‑90 lead with just over three minutes left. He capped the night with a 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds remaining. Harden’s efficiency was notable, shooting 9‑of‑14 from the field, grabbing five rebounds, dishing out four assists, and blocking a shot.
He also moved past Rajon Rondo for seventh place on the all‑time postseason assists list, now sitting at 1,139. Both Harden and Mobley displayed strong defensive teamwork in the final quarter, with Mobley forcing Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili to alter his shot in the paint and Harden securing a crucial steal with 4:02 left, marking his fourth playoff game with at least five steals. Overall, Monday night delivered a wealth of excitement across multiple series, with several games decided in the final seconds and numerous standout performances.
Fans can continue following the 2026 NBA playoffs on Sky Sports, with the next action featuring the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night at 11 p.m. on Sky Sports+.