Atlanta Hawks defeat New York Knicks after late CJ McCollum winner
CJ McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining to secure a 109-108 victory for the Atlanta Hawks over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday.
Following his stellar performance in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, the veteran guard delivered again by sinking a 15-foot shot to finish with 23 points.
The hosts had controlled the majority of the contest at State Farm Arena, establishing a commanding 18-point advantage in the first half.
Late drama seals dramatic finish
However, the visitors mounted a fierce comeback, edging ahead 108-105 when Jalen Brunson completed a crucial three-point play with just over a minute left.
Jalen Johnson, who top-scored for the Georgia franchise with 24 points, subsequently closed the gap with a composed finish inside the paint.
A missed three-point attempt by Josh Hart gave the home side an opening, and despite securing the offensive rebound, the away side committed a costly shot-clock violation.
Kuminga impact stunts Knicks revival
Following McCollum’s decisive strike, Jonathan Kuminga stripped the ball from Brunson to ensure time expired before a final response could be launched.
Kuminga proved instrumental off the bench, contributing 21 vital points to halt the momentum of the recovering New York roster.
OG Anunoby was the standout offensive performer for the losing team with a game-high 29 points, while Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns added 26 and 21 respectively.
First-half dominance establishes foundation
The foundations for the narrow victory were laid early, as the home team outscored their opponents 27-12 over the final seven minutes of the first quarter.
That commanding stretch featured three consecutive shots from beyond the arc, initiated by little-used center Mouhamed Gueye.
The defensive prowess of the match-winner was also on full display, notably blocking a clear drive to the basket by Hart to regain possession during a crucial exchange.
Game 4 of this tightly contested postseason battle will take place on Saturday in Atlanta.
The result leaves the Eastern Conference challengers facing a crucial weekend clash to avoid falling into an almost insurmountable 3-1 series deficit.
