Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks to Dominant Game 5 Victory Over Hawks

On Tuesday, April 29, 2026, the New York Knicks routed the Atlanta Hawks 126-97 at Madison Square Garden, seizing a 3-2 lead in the first-round series. Jalen Brunson posted a career-playoff high of 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting, added eight assists and a single turnover, and scored 17 fourth-quarter points to stretch the margin to 27.

The Source

The Knicks entered the series trailing 2-1 after two one-point defeats in Games 2 and 3. A 114-98 win in Game 4 shifted momentum, and the Game 5 blowout gave New York a 54-point cumulative advantage across five contests. Historically, teams that win a tied Game 5 advance roughly 81-84 % of the time, positioning the Knicks favorably for the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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• Jalen Brunson – 39 pts, 8 ast, 3 reb; 5-for-7 in the final seven seconds of the shot clock.

Knicks Player Ratings: Brunson’s 39 Points Leads To Important Game 5 Victory Over Hawks

• Karl-Anthony Towns – 16 pts, 14 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk; continued his postseason playmaking surge.

Knicks Player Ratings: Brunson’s 39 Points Leads To Important Game 5 Victory Over Hawks

• OG Anunoby – 17 pts, 10 reb, solid two-way effort.

Knicks Player Ratings: Brunson’s 39 Points Leads To Important Game 5 Victory Over Hawks

• Jose Alvarado – 12 pts off the bench, providing energy and defense.

AM New York

• Knicks shot 57 % as a team (65 % in the opening quarter) and out-rebounded the Hawks 48-27.

AM New York

• Atlanta’s field-goal percentage fell to 42.7 % overall and 27.7 % from three; CJ McCollum was held to six points, his lowest output since joining the Hawks.

Associated Press

• The Knicks limited the Hawks to 106.9 points per 100 possessions, the second-worst efficiency for any team in the series.

AM New York

The victory gives New York a chance to close the series in Game 6 on Thursday in Atlanta. A win would send the Knicks to the second round for the fourth consecutive year, where they could face either the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers. The performance also reinforces Brunson’s reputation as a clutch playoff scorer and validates the Knicks’ defensive identity.

The Source

Coach Mike Brown praised the team’s resilience, noting that “adversity… shows what you’re made of and how you’ll respond.” He called Brunson’s effort “phenomenal” and emphasized the veteran group’s collective resolve. Hawks coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the Knicks’ adjustments, promising to “keep putting different guys on him, changing matchups, doing any [thing] we can.” Towns, when asked about his role in Brunson’s surge, said he would “watch the tape” and hoped his play “helps him be who he’s always been.”

ESPN

Early in the series, Brunson faced criticism for low shooting efficiency (e.g., 9-of-22 in Game 1) and defensive lapses against Atlanta’s perimeter duo of Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Hawks’ coaching staff highlighted the need for continued defensive pressure, while some fans questioned the Knicks’ reliance on isolation play.

Jalen Brunson claps back at Knicks critics without saying a single word

Madison Square Garden was packed with 19,812 fans, including former Knicks greats such as Carmelo Anthony. The crowd gave Brunson a standing ovation after his fourth-quarter run, underscoring the home-court energy that accompanied the win.

Newsday

Sources differ slightly on the Knicks’ overall shooting percentage (57 % vs. 65 % reported for the first quarter) and on Towns’ exact point total (some list 16, others 15). No other substantive discrepancies appear.

4 takeaways: Jalen Brunson stars, Hawks struggle shooting from 3

• “The ball went in, but just happy we were able to keep the lead,” — Jalen Brunson, point guard

ESPN

• “It’s like a chess match. Someone makes a move and you got to make another move,” — Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson reveals key Knicks adjustment in Game 5

• “You’ve got to go through some adversity through the course of the year and see what you’re made of, see how you’ll respond,” — Mike Brown, head coach

Heavy

• “We’ll keep putting different guys on him, changing matchups, doing any [thing] we can and just make it hard on him.” — Quin Snyder, Hawks coach

Newsday

• “I don't think anything of it” — Jalen Brunson, on CJ McCollum’s alleged kick

Knicks’ Jalen Brunson weighs in on latest round of CJ McCollum drama

Game 6 is slated for Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. ET in Atlanta. The Knicks aim to clinch the series, while the Hawks will seek to force a decisive Game 7. The outcome will determine which Eastern Conference contender the Knicks face next.

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