The Atlanta Hawks stunned the New York Knicks with a dramatic 15-6 run in the final minutes of Game 2, securing a 107-106 victory in the Eastern Conference first-round series. The win leveled the best-of-seven series at one game apiece, with Game 3 set for Thursday night at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

Turnaround in the Fourth Quarter

The Hawks. Who trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, mounted a furious comeback in the fourth — With the Knicks leading 100-92 at 5:26 remaining, Atlanta responded with a series of clutch plays. Jalen Johnson’s layup with 3:25 left brought the Hawks within 100-99, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

CJ McCollum. The game’s leading scorer. Drove past Jalen Brunson for a go-ahead layup with 2:08 remaining, as the Knicks’ OG Anunoby missed two free throws, and McCollum followed with a short jumper to extend the lead. Brunson countered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 103-103, but McCollum soon took control.

With 33.5 seconds left, McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper from the left baseline to give the Hawks a 105-103 lead — Nickeil Alexander-Walker then blocked Brunson’s shot and fed Johnson for a dunk, extending the lead to 107-103 with 10.2 seconds remaining.

Knick’s Last-Ditch Efforts

The Knicks fought back with a timeout and a 3-pointer from Brunson, which circled the rim before finding the net. McCollum was fouled by Immanuel Hart but missed both free throws. With 10 seconds left, the Knicks pushed the ball up the court, and Hart passed to Mikal Bridges, who missed a 12-foot shot from the left wing as time expired.

The Hawks’ late-game success was fueled by their explosive shooting in the fourth quarter. They shot 72.2 percent (13-for-18) in the final period, while the Knicks managed just 22.7 percent (5-for-22). This contrast in efficiency was major in Atlanta’s comeback.

Contributions from Key Players

Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 19 points off the bench, was a central contributor for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson added 17 points, and Onyeka Okongwu chipped in 15 points. The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson led his team with 29 points, while Hart recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points, and OG Anunoby finished with 14 points.

The Hawks’ ability to execute under pressure and their high shooting percentage in the final period were key factors in their victory. The series is now tied 1-1, setting up a major Game 3 in Atlanta where the momentum will be tested once again.