Many legendary rivalries have been produced at the World’s Greatest Arena. From Rangers-Islanders to the legendary bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier,
Apr 28, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson controls the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels during the second quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Many legendary rivalries have been produced at the World’s Greatest Arena. From Rangers-Islanders to the legendary bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, New Yorkers have been spoiled with some of the greatest sporting moments. A year removed from an electric Eastern Conference Finals run, the Knicks return to the Garden — looking for vengeance. The heated rivalry between the Hawks and Knicks has been renewed.
Atlanta has served as a surprising challenge, showing they wouldn’t go down without a fight — earning a hard-fought one-point victory at the Garden in game two, while winning game three at home in another one-point bout. A loud and energetic Knicks fanbase packed the Mecca and the outside area for game five, backing their squad in a 126-97 win to go up 3-2.
Physicality has been the Knicks’ biggest strong suit over the last two games, putting more and more pressure on the Hawks throughout the series. Offensively, consistent shots are being created. Defensively, everyone is stepping up — forcing the Hawks to take contested shots from beyond the arc, a team that heavily relies on frontcourt play.
Rebounding was a significant advantage for the Knicks, outpacing Atlanta by 11 boards in the first half and finishing with 48, compared to 27 for the Hawks. It was orange and blue right out the gate — scoring 35 points in the first quarter, led by a strong seven-point performance from Karl Anthony-Towns, outpacing a fast Hawks team.
Towns has fueled the Knicks throughout the opening round of the NBA playoffs, serving as no match for Onyeka Okongwu and the Hawks’ backcourt. The dominance of KAT continued throughout the contest, finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, while also delivering a strong defensive performance.
The strong play from Towns throughout the series has been pivotal, stepping up on both ends — particularly defense, where he tallied two blocks and two steals on the night, a place he commonly struggles. Momentum carried through the second quarter for the Knicks, matching every blow from the Hawks with something of their own.
The strong start from the field continued, shooting 60% through the second quarter — pushing their lead up to 22 points with three minutes to play in the first half. Halftime hit — New York held a commanding 64-48 lead. Over the last seven quarters of play, the Knicks outscored the Hawks by 39 points. Jalen Brunson delivered a quiet but dominant 17-point first-half performance while also adding four assists.
Brunson finished his night with 39 points, continuing his dominant playoff tenure with the Knicks — one of the best players in franchise history. The consistent shooting carried over into the second half, with the Knicks going 45/79 from the field, a 57% clip as a team. Bench points were a huge plus for New York, with Jose Alvarado continuing his dominance with 12 points, providing elite hustle off the second unit.
Game 6 — an opportunity for the Knicks to handle business in Atlanta and advance to the second round for a potential series with the Boston Celtics. In 2025, the two Eastern Conference powerhouses faced off during the second round, playing a competitive and physical series, with star forward Jayson Tatum going down during game four with a torn Achilles. Now, less than one year later, Tatum is back — looking for vengeance as the two potentially meet again.
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