Story perspectives

Hawks Edge Knicks 109-108, Take 2-1 Series Lead

4/24/2026

Summary

McCollum Clutch Win

Atlanta Hawks beat New York Knicks 109–108 in Game 3, taking a 2-1 series lead.
C.J. McCollum scored 23 points and hit the go-ahead jumper with 12.7 seconds left.
Jalen Brunson turned the ball over on the final play after an air-ball, sealing the loss.
OG Anunoby led New York with 29 points while Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 24.
The Knicks shot 43.0 % overall, 28.6 % from three and committed 18 turnovers.

Summary

Thunder Defense Tops

Jalen Williams left Game 2 with a hamstring injury, marking his 49th missed game this season.
Thunder defense tops the league with a 60.7 % opponent FG% in the restricted area, allowing 24 % of shots there.
Oklahoma City outscored Phoenix by 25 points per 100 possessions, double any other series margin.
Lakers lead 2-0 without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, with LeBron James averaging 23.5 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists.

Summary

NBC Broadcasts Playoffs

NBC Sports will broadcast nine playoff games from April 25-28, including its first Saturday tripleheader and the exclusive Western Conference Finals.
Opening-weekend viewership averaged 4.3 million across ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime, the second-highest total since 2011.
NBC’s late-night game featuring Victor Wembanyama drew 5.73 million viewers, the highest audience of the weekend.
A scorebug glitch on Monday erroneously added a Knicks timeout in the final six seconds of Game 2, prompting criticism.

History

Historical Context

The 2011 NBA playoffs marked a pivotal moment when the Dallas Mavericks secured their first championship by defeating the Miami Heat 4-2. This victory followed a season where the Mavericks showcased impressive offensive skills, achieving a 52.1% shooting percentage. The competitive landscape of the NBA has since evolved, with teams like the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks exemplifying the high-stakes nature of modern playoff battles.

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McCollum Clutch Win

Atlanta Hawks beat New York Knicks 109–108 in Game 3, taking a 2-1 series lead.
C.J. McCollum scored 23 points and hit the go-ahead jumper with 12.7 seconds left.
Jalen Brunson turned the ball over on the final play after an air-ball, sealing the loss.
OG Anunoby led New York with 29 points while Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 24.
The Knicks shot 43.0 % overall, 28.6 % from three and committed 18 turnovers.

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