In a dramatic showdown on Monday night, the Atlanta Hawks managed to edge past the New York Knicks 107-106, tying their opening round series at one win each. The decisive factor was veteran guard CJ McCollum, who poured in 32 points and orchestrated the late surge that ultimately secured the victory for Atlanta.
The game’s climax was a roller‑coaster of emotions. With just 5.6 seconds left on the clock, McCollum missed two free throws that could have sealed the win outright.
The Knicks, desperate and without any timeouts remaining, pushed the ball up the court in a final attempt to snatch the game. However, Mikal Bridges, who had been a reliable scorer throughout the night, missed a contested jumper as the buzzer sounded, ending the contest in favor of the Hawks. Atlanta’s path to the win was anything but smooth.
The Hawks spent the entire second half trailing, and after three quarters they found themselves down by 12 points. Yet the team displayed remarkable resilience, chipping away at the deficit. A pivotal basket by McCollum gave Atlanta a 101-100 lead with 2:09 remaining, marking the first time they led in the second half of the series. He then extended the advantage to three points with a follow‑up jumper.
When Knicks star Jalen Brunson answered with a three‑pointer to tie the game, McCollum responded once more, hitting another jumper that put the Hawks ahead 105-103 with just 33 seconds left. Off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points, providing a valuable scoring punch that helped maintain the lead.
Forward Jalen Johnson added 17 points, including a clutch basket with 10 seconds remaining that stretched the Hawks' lead to four. The combined effort of the No.
6 seed from the Western Conference ensured they would host Game Three on Thursday, looking to capitalize on the momentum. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson posted a solid 29 points, while veteran big man Karl‑Anthony Towns added 18. Despite the loss, New York remains focused on extending its playoff run for a fourth consecutive year—a stretch that would be the longest since the early 1990s when the franchise made deep postseason runs from 1991‑92 through 1999‑2000.
"This is a game we should have won," Knicks forward Josh Hart reflected after the final buzzer. "In the playoffs you can't give away games." His comment underscored the frustration of a team that had multiple opportunities to close out the game but ultimately fell short. In another first‑round matchup, the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied past the Denver Nuggets 119-114, also tying their series at one game apiece. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 30 points, while Julius Randle added 24.
The Timberwolves erased a 19‑point first‑quarter deficit and turned the tide in the second half. Denver, which had enjoyed a 13‑game winning streak dating back to March 18, struggled to contain Minnesota’s surge. The closing moments of the Wolves‑Nuggets game were equally tense.
With 31 seconds left, Edwards turned the ball over, and Christian Braun was fouled on the other end. Braun missed one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115-114 with 19 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, Randle sank both free throws for the Wolves, and Donte DiVincenzo finished the comeback with a breakaway dunk, cementing Minnesota’s 119-114 win. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic combined for 54 points for Denver—Murray with 30 and Jokic contributing 24, 15 rebounds, and eight assists—but their shooting collapsed in the fourth quarter, where they made just two of twelve attempts. The Nuggets, historically dominant when they win the first two games of a series (8‑0 all‑time), now face a tied series and must regroup as the series shifts to Minneapolis for Game Three.
Murray’s performance featured a spectacular 51‑foot three‑pointer at the half‑time buzzer that tied the game at 64. Jokic, after a quiet start, erupted in the third quarter with 16 points, helping Denver briefly regain a 93-90 lead. Meanwhile, Edwards displayed noticeable improvement from the series opener, where a sore knee limited him to 22 points.
In Game Two, he attacked the rim more aggressively, reducing his reliance on jump shots. Minnesota’s second‑chance points (20‑3) proved decisive, as they turned early deficits 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 Game One, started Game Two strong, hitting five of seven from beyond the arc before halftime and delivering multiple four‑point plays in the first quarter, drawing fouls from Ayo Dosunmu. Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominant start to the Eastern Conference playoffs, defeating the Toronto Raptors 115-105 to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Cavaliers’ success was driven by a trio of stars: Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley. Coach Kenny Atkinson praised the trio, noting their ability to hit big shots and contribute on both ends of the floor. Mitchell posted a 30‑point performance, including four three‑pointers, and added seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 37 minutes.
Harden contributed 28 points and showcased his defensive prowess with four steals in the second half, moving past Rajon Rondo to become seventh all‑time in postseason assists with 1,139. Mobley recorded a team‑high eight rebounds and an efficient 25 points on 11‑of‑13 shooting, also making key defensive plays, such as forcing Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili into a contested shot and helping Harden secure a crucial steal late in the game. The Cavaliers’ achievement marked the fourth time in franchise history that three players have each scored at least 25 points in a playoff game.
Mitchell’s late‑game heroics included nine points in the fourth quarter, with a stretch of seven consecutive points that helped the Cavs build a 106-90 lead with just over three minutes left. He capped the performance with a stylish 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds remaining. Overall, Monday night delivered a wealth of high‑stakes basketball across multiple series.
The Hawks’ comeback against the Knicks, the Timberwolves’ resilience in Denver, and the Cavaliers’ star‑powered dominance all set the stage for intriguing storylines as the playoffs progress. Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports, with upcoming matchups including the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Boston Celtics on Sky Sports+ later this week.