CJ McCollum delivered a standout performance, pouring in 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks pulled off a dramatic 107‑106 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night, tying their first‑round playoff series at one game each. The win was sealed in the final seconds of a tightly contested battle, with McCollum’s late surge almost slipping away when he missed two free throws with just 5.6 seconds left on the clock. The Knicks, desperate to capitalize, rushed the ball up the floor despite having no timeouts remaining, but Mikal Bridges’ final jumper fell short as the buzzer sounded, cementing the Hawks’ comeback.
Atlanta had spent the entire second half trailing, finding themselves down by as many as 12 points after three quarters. The Hawks methodically chipped away at the deficit, and a crucial basket from McCollum gave Atlanta a 101‑100 lead with 2:09 remaining – their first lead of the night in the second half.
He then extended the margin to three points, only for Knicks guard Jalen Brunson to answer with a three‑pointer that knotted the game. Undeterred, McCollum responded with another jumper, pushing the Hawks ahead 105‑103 with 33 seconds to go. Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points off the bench, while Jalen Johnson added 17, including a decisive basket with ten seconds left that put the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference up by four points as they prepared to host Game 3 on Thursday.
For New York, Brunson finished with 29 points and Karl‑Anthony Townes added 18, but the effort fell short of the franchise’s goal of reaching the second round for a fourth consecutive season – a streak that would mark their longest playoff run since the early 1990s. Knicks forward Josh Hart summed up the disappointment, saying, "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 matched the Denver Nuggets 119‑114, evening their series at one game apiece. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 30 points, while Julius Randle added 24.
The Wolves erased a 19‑point first‑quarter hole and turned the tide in the final minutes. With 31 seconds left, Edwards turned the ball over, but Christian Braun was fouled on the other end and missed one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115‑114. After a timeout, Randle sank two free throws and Donte DiVincenzo finished the comeback with a breakaway dunk, sealing the win.
Denver’s star duo, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, combined for 54 points (30 and 24 respectively) but struggled with shooting in the fourth quarter, going just 2‑for‑12. Their poor performance allowed Minnesota to close the series gap as the series shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday night.
Historically, the Nuggets have never lost the first two games of a playoff series (8‑0 when they win the opening two), while the Wolves have never won both opening games after dropping the first two (0‑8). Murray’s earlier heroics included a 51‑foot three‑pointer at halftime that tied the game at 64, and he entered the second half shooting 5‑of‑7 from beyond the arc after a cold start in Game 1.
Edwards showed marked improvement over his 22‑point effort in the series opener, attacking the rim more aggressively and relying less on jump shots. Minnesota out‑rebounded Denver in second‑chance opportunities 20‑3 and turned a 19‑point early deficit into a 64‑56 lead before Denver responded with an eight‑point run to close the first half.
Murray, who missed all eight of his three‑point attempts in Game 1, started this game with a three‑pointer and was five‑for‑seven from deep before the break, including two four‑point plays that resulted from fouls by Ayo Dosunmu. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominant start to the Eastern Conference first round, beating the Toronto Raptors 115‑105 to take a 2‑0 series lead. Coach Kenny Atkinson praised the trio of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley, calling it a "superstar game" where the three led the team with clutch shooting and defensive intensity. Mitchell contributed 30 points, hitting four three‑pointers, and added seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 37 minutes.
Harden scored 28 points and recorded four steals in the second half, while Mobley posted a team‑high eight rebounds and 25 points on an efficient 11‑of‑13 shooting night. The Cavaliers’ performance marked the fourth time in franchise history that three players have each scored at least 25 points in a playoff game.
Mitchell’s fourth‑quarter burst of nine points, including a stretch of seven straight, helped the Cavs stretch their lead to 106‑90 with just over three minutes remaining. He capped the night with a stylish 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds left. Harden’s defensive contributions were highlighted by five steals, moving him past Rajon Rondo into seventh place on the all‑time postseason assists list with 1,139.
Mobley’s defensive effort included forcing Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili to alter his shot in the paint, while Harden’s timely steal with 4:02 left marked his fourth playoff game with at least five steals. Overall, Monday night delivered a wealth of high‑stakes drama across the NBA’s opening round, with multiple series seeing dramatic swings, clutch performances, and historic milestones.
Fans can continue to follow the action as the playoffs progress, with upcoming games such as the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Boston Celtics slated to air on Sky Sports+ later this week.