In a dramatic first‑round showdown on Monday night, the Atlanta Hawks edged the New York Knicks 107‑106, tying the best‑of‑seven series at one win apiece. The decisive factor was veteran guard CJ McCollum, who poured in 32 points and sparked a late‑game rally that ultimately proved just enough to snatch victory from the Knicks. The contest was a seesaw battle from start to finish. Atlanta fell behind early in the second half and entered the third quarter trailing by double digits.
By the end of the third period, the Hawks were down 12 points, and the odds seemed to favor the home‑court Knicks. Yet the Hawks refused to capitulate. They methodically chipped away at the deficit, and with 2:09 left on the clock, McCollum knocked down a mid‑range jumper that gave Atlanta a 101‑100 lead – their first lead of the night after falling behind for most of the second half.
McCollum’s heroics continued. He followed the go‑ahead basket with a three‑pointer that stretched the Hawks’ advantage to four points. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, answered with a three of their own to knot the score.
Undeterred, McCollum responded with another jumper, pushing the lead back to 105‑103 with just 33 seconds remaining. In the final moments, he missed two free throws with 5.6 seconds left, but the Knicks could not capitalize. They pushed the ball up the court with no timeouts left, and Mikal Bridges’ last‑second shot rimmed out, sealing the win for Atlanta. Off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga contributed 19 points, providing a crucial scoring punch that helped keep the Hawks in contention.
Forward Jalen Johnson added 17 points, including a clutch bucket with ten seconds left that extended Atlanta’s lead to four. The combined effort of the Hawks’ role players proved vital in a game that swung on a handful of possessions. For New York, Brunson delivered a solid 29‑point performance, while veteran Karl‑Anthony Towns added 18 points. Despite the loss, the Knicks remain determined to advance to the second round for a fourth consecutive year – a feat they have not accomplished since the early 1990s, when the franchise enjoyed a nine‑year playoff streak from 1991‑92 through 1999‑2000.
In other first‑round action, the Minnesota Timberwolves matched the Denver Nuggets 119‑114, evening their series at one game each. Anthony Edwards erupted for 30 points, and Julius Randle supplied 24, as Minnesota erased a 19‑point first‑quarter hole to force a comeback. Denver, which had been on a 13‑game winning streak dating back to March 18, saw its momentum evaporate in the final minute. Edwards turned the ball over with 31 seconds left, and although Christian Braun was fouled on the other end, he missed one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115‑114.
After a timeout, Randle sank two free throws, and Donte DiVincenzo capped the Wolves’ rally with a breakaway dunk, securing the win. The Nuggets’ star duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic combined for 54 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, but they shot a dismal 2‑for‑12 from the field in the fourth quarter, managing only four points. Murray’s earlier heroics – a 51‑foot three‑pointer at the half‑time buzzer that tied the game at 64 – were not enough to offset the Wolves’ surge. Jokic, after a quiet start, exploded for 16 points in the third quarter, giving Denver a brief 93‑90 edge, yet Minnesota’s relentless second‑chance scoring (20‑3) ultimately tipped the balance.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominant start by defeating the Toronto Raptors 115‑105, taking a 2‑0 series lead. The Cavs’ trio of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley each tallied at least 25 points – a rare achievement in franchise playoff history. Mitchell posted a 30‑point line with four three‑pointers, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal, while Harden contributed 28 points and a career‑high four steals in the second half. Mobley, who shot an efficient 11‑of‑13, added 25 points and eight rebounds, anchoring the Cavs’ defense.
Coach Kenny Atkinson praised the star power on his squad, noting that the three players “hit the big shots” and displayed elite defensive effort, especially Harden’s four‑steal performance. The Cavaliers built a decisive 106‑90 lead in the fourth quarter, with Mitchell scoring nine of his points in the final period, including a spectacular 13‑foot turnaround bank shot with 45.3 seconds remaining.
These opening round games set the tone for a thrilling postseason. Both the Hawks and the Wolves have now forced their opponents into a do‑or‑die scenario, while the Cavaliers look poised to continue their march toward the conference finals. 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.