Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Knicks Crush Hawks 126-97, Brunson Scores 39

4/29/2026

26 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Knicks Take Lead

Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 126-97 in Game 5 on April 28 2026, taking a 3-2 series lead.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted 16 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks, saying the win stemmed from discipline, physicality and trust.
Jalen Brunson scored a series-high 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting, including 17 in the fourth quarter.
Coach Mike Brown kept his starters and gave extra minutes to Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson.

Summary

Brunson Clutch

Jalen Brunson hit 5 of 7 shots in the final seven seconds, posting a 53.2% effective field-goal rate, the league’s second-best in that window.
Knicks shot 45.2% on 31 three-point attempts while the Hawks made 24.4% on 41 tries.
New York forced 18 turnovers and produced 1.19 points per possession compared with Atlanta’s 0.97.
Reserve Miles McBride contributed 11 points, three threes and a +20.6 net rating, the team’s second-highest.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, the lockout-shortened NBA season saw the New York Knicks enter the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed. Defying odds, they swept the Hawks, beat the Pacers and became the first #8 team ever to reach the Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs won the series 4-1. That upset blueprint underpins the 2026 Knicks’ defensive focus.

1 of 3

Knicks Take Lead

Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 126-97 in Game 5 on April 28 2026, taking a 3-2 series lead.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted 16 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks, saying the win stemmed from discipline, physicality and trust.
Jalen Brunson scored a series-high 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting, including 17 in the fourth quarter.
Coach Mike Brown kept his starters and gave extra minutes to Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson.

1 / 3