Atlanta Hawks Edge Knicks 109-108 in Thrilling Playoff Win, Take 2-1 Series Lead

The Atlanta Hawks secured a dramatic 109-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday, April 24, 2026, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.

CJ McCollum delivered the decisive moment with a fadeaway jumper from 15 feet with 12.5 seconds remaining, giving Atlanta the one-point lead that would hold. The shot capped a 23-point performance for McCollum, who has now made two clutch plays in the series against New York.

Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 24 points, including a key layup in response to the Knicks’ late surge, while OG Anunoby paced New York with 29 points. The Hawks had built an 18-point lead in the first half before the Knicks mounted a spirited comeback to take a 108-105 advantage with just over a minute left.

After Jalen Brunson completed a three-point play to put New York ahead, Johnson answered for Atlanta to cut the deficit to 108-107. The Knicks then had a chance to extend their lead when Josh Hart missed a three-pointer but grabbed the offensive rebound, though they could not beat the shot clock on the ensuing possession.

With the Hawks trailing by one, McCollum received the ball and created space against Hart’s outstretched arm to hit the go-ahead shot. New York then attempted to inbound with 12.5 seconds left, but Atlanta’s defense swarmed Brunson, forcing a trapped baseline situation where he found no open teammates.

Brunson’s pass toward Hart bounced clear and headed back toward half-court as time expired, securing the win for Atlanta. Hawks coach Quin Snyder praised his team’s execution, saying, “They work, they share. That’s the thing about this group that I’ve enjoyed so much.”

The victory gives Atlanta home-court advantage for Game 4, scheduled for Saturday in Atlanta. The Knicks, despite holding home-court advantage in the series due to their higher seed, now face a 2-1 deficit heading back to State Farm Arena.