Over the last several years, the Knicks have run into unforgettable villains. From Tyrese Haliburton’s choking gesture to Trae Young silencing Madison Square
Apr 23, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Over the last several years, the Knicks have run into unforgettable villains. From Tyrese Haliburton’s choking gesture to Trae Young silencing Madison Square Garden in 2021, the pain has lingered. In 2026, CJ McCollum owns the role, averaging 27 points through the first three games of the series. It was a clear look of desperation from the Knicks, playing with an intensity absent in the last two games, knowing it was do-or-die time.
The Knicks earned Game 4 in dominating fashion, pulling away in the second half to secure a convincing 114-98 win and knot the series at Karl-Anthony Towns continued his strong start to playoff basketball, tallying a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Through four games, Towns is averaging 21 points with 11 rebounds and five assists.
Towns wasn’t the only headlining contributor — OG Anunoby stepped up yet again, totaling a double-double with a strong 21 points and 10 rebounds. The biggest storyline throughout the series has been the Knicks’ failure to execute defensively and their struggle to find consistent offense outside of Jalen Brunson.
The final possession of Game 3 perfectly explains the current state of the Knicks, with Brunson dribbling through traffic while the rest of the team stood off to the side, looking to hit a game-winner off iso ball. The Knicks’ defense showed up early, locking down the Hawks and forcing a 7-for-19 start from the field, holding them to just 20 first-quarter points.
The strong defense carried over into the second, with the Knicks using all-out perimeter blitzes to force contested shots. The hard pressure and hustle mentality forced 11 turnovers in the first half, led by Josh Hart and Jose Alvarado, who both tallied two steals. For a team that likes to play very fast, the Knicks did everything they could to stifle their offense.
Through the first three games, the Hawks had 40 total fast-break points, executing perfectly against a defense that had struggled. In the win, Atlanta was held to zero fast-break points, a key to the dominant performance. It seemed like the Knicks would continue pulling away — that was until Jalen Brunson went down with an ankle injury to open the third quarter, sending him to the locker room.
Without Brunson on the court, New York looked lost, allowing the Hawks to climb back into the contest with a 9-5 run. However, Alvarado stepped up, living up to his “Grand Theft Alvarado” nickname thanks to a steal and a three-pointer. The Knicks captain found himself back in the game with five minutes to go in the third quarter, with the Knicks holding a 72-55 lead.
The Hawks began to fall apart, with no answer to the Knicks’ strong playmaking on offense while struggling to hit from beyond the arc. Brunson iced the game with five minutes to go, pushing the Knicks’ lead to 24 points. It was loud in State Farm Arena, with Knicks fans making their presence felt and showing up to support their team.
Game 5 will bring the must-watch series back to Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks have the opportunity to regain the lead and potentially clinch the first-round series back in Atlanta.drivers licensesgardens
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