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Knicks Rout Hawks 126-97, Brunson Scores 39

4/29/2026

38 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Knicks Take Lead

New York Knicks defeated Atlanta Hawks 126-97 in Game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored 39 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby posted 17 points and 10 rebounds while Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as the Knicks outrebounded Atlanta 48-27.
Hawks forward Jalen Johnson recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Summary

Knicks Dominate

Coach Mike Brown said the Knicks executed at every stage of the shot clock, pulling ahead early and never trailing by fewer than 10 points.
The Knicks finished the season in the top ten for both offense and defense, a feat achieved only twice in the past 30 years.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 73.9% true-shooting rate in Game 5 and added two key blocks, reinforcing New York’s defense.

History

Historical Context

After the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, the New York Knicks entered the playoffs as the eighth seed and, under coach Jeff Van Gundy, eliminated top-seed Miami Heat with Allan Houston’s buzzer-beater. They then swept Atlanta and beat Indiana to become the first #8 seed to reach the NBA Finals, a distinction they held alone until 2023 when the Miami Heat matched it.

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Knicks Take Lead

New York Knicks defeated Atlanta Hawks 126-97 in Game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson scored 39 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby posted 17 points and 10 rebounds while Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as the Knicks outrebounded Atlanta 48-27.
Hawks forward Jalen Johnson recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

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