CJ McCollum delivered a standout performance, pouring in 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks rallied to defeat the New York Knicks 107-106 on Monday night, tying the best‑of‑seven opening round at one game each. The victory was secured in dramatic fashion, with McCollum missing two free throws with just 5.6 seconds left, but the Knicks were unable to capitalize on the final possession. After a frantic inbound, New York’s Mikal Bridges attempted a last‑second jumper that fell short, sealing the Hawks' comeback.
Atlanta had spent the entire second half trailing, finding themselves down by 12 points after three quarters. However, the Hawks methodically chipped away at the deficit.
A crucial basket by McCollum gave Atlanta a 101-100 edge with 2:09 remaining – their first lead of the night in the second half. He then knocked down a three‑pointer to stretch the margin to three points.
When Knicks guard Jalen Brunson answered with a three of his own to knot the score, McCollum responded with another mid‑range jumper, pushing the Hawks ahead 105-103 with just 33 seconds on the clock. Bench contributor Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points, while Jalen Johnson supplied 17, including a decisive bucket with ten seconds left that cemented a four‑point advantage for the sixth‑seeded Hawks, who will host Game Three on Thursday. For New York, Brunson tallied 29 points and Karl‑Anthony Towns chipped in 18, but the collective effort fell short of the win they believed they deserved.
"This is a game we should have won," Knicks forward Josh Hart remarked after the loss. "In the playoffs you can't give away games." The Knicks are aiming to reach the second round for a fourth consecutive year, a feat they have not achieved since the early 1990s stretch from the 1991‑92 to 1999‑2000 seasons. In a separate Western Conference matchup, the Minnesota Timberwolves matched the Denver Nuggets 119-114, evening their series at one game apiece.
Anthony Edwards erupted for 30 points, while Julius Randle contributed 24 for the Wolves, who erased a 19‑point first‑quarter hole to take control. Denver, which had enjoyed a 13‑game winning streak before the loss, saw its star duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic struggle in the final period, combining for just two of twelve shots and scoring a meager four points after the break. The Nuggets had a historic advantage in playoff series, boasting an 8‑0 record when they secured the first two games.
Conversely, the Timberwolves were 0‑8 when dropping the opening two contests, making this victory a crucial step toward breaking that trend. Murray’s 51‑foot buzzer‑beater at halftime tied the game at 64, and Jokic surged in the third quarter with 16 points, helping Denver briefly regain a 93-90 lead.
However, Minnesota’s resilience shone through as they outscored Denver 20‑3 on second‑chance opportunities and ultimately closed the gap with clutch free throws from Randle and a breakaway dunk by Donte DiVincenzo. Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominant start to the postseason, beating the Toronto Raptors 115-105 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first round. The Cavs were propelled by a trio of star performances: Donovan Mitchell’s 30 points (including four three‑pointers), James Harden’s 28 points and five steals, and Evan Mobley’s 25 points on an efficient 11‑of‑13 shooting night, complemented by a team‑high eight rebounds. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson praised the effort, 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 was really good on defense and Don made some out‑of‑this‑world, incredible shots. That's why they're stars." The victory marked the fourth time in franchise history that Cleveland featured at least three players scoring 25 or more points in a playoff contest. Mitchell’s fourth‑quarter surge, highlighted by seven consecutive points, helped the Cavs build a 106-90 lead with just over three minutes remaining.
He capped the night with a slick 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds left. Harden, shooting 9‑of‑14 from the field, also contributed five rebounds, four assists and a block, while moving past Rajon Rondo for seventh place on the all‑time postseason assists list with 1,139.
Defensively, Mobley forced Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili into an altered shot, and Harden secured a crucial steal with just over four minutes to go, marking his fourth playoff game with at least five steals. These early series results set the tone for a thrilling postseason. The Hawks, now back in the mix after a gritty comeback, will look to capitalize on home‑court advantage in Game Three. The Timberwolves aim to maintain momentum against a Denver team that has struggled to finish strong.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers seek to press their advantage and push deeper into the Eastern bracket, relying on the continued excellence of Mitchell, Harden, and Mobley. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups including the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Boston Celtics on Sky Sports+ later this week.