Karl-Anthony Towns drove to the basket and scored a layup with 6:26 left in the fourth quarter, putting the Knicks up 87-100 against the Hawks in Game 1 of their playoff series.
The basket came after a shooting foul on Onyeka Okongwu, giving New York two free throws and extending their lead to 13 points with under seven minutes remaining. Towns’ score was followed by a defensive rebound from Josh Hart, who secured the miss after Okongwu’s failed 25-foot three-point attempt.
Jordan Clarkson then added two points for Atlanta with a mid-range jumper, but the Hawks failed to close the gap as New York maintained control of the tempo and possession in the final stretch.
How the Knicks built their fourth-quarter lead
New York’s advantage stemmed from efficient interior scoring and disciplined rebounding, particularly from Towns and Hart, who combined for multiple second-chance opportunities. The Knicks limited Atlanta’s three-point production after Okongwu’s miss, forcing the Hawks into lower-percentage shots. This approach mirrored their strategy in the 2024 playoff series against Cleveland, when they similarly protected a late lead by controlling the paint and avoiding fouls on jump shooters.
For more on this story, see Hornets vs. Knicks: How to Watch, Time, and Streaming Info.
Why Atlanta struggled to respond
The Hawks relied heavily on perimeter attempts in the fourth quarter, with Okongwu’s missed three-pointer exemplifying their difficulty finding rhythm against New York’s close-out defense. Clarkson’s basket was one of few Atlanta scores in the final minutes, as the team shot below 30% from the field after the timeout. Their inability to secure offensive rebounds limited second-chance points, a factor that contributed to their 13-point deficit entering the final five minutes.
This follows our earlier report, NBA Sunday Roundup: Jokić’s Triple-Double, Knicks Win & More!.
What was the final score of Game 1?
The source does not provide the final score, only the state of the game at 6:26 in the fourth quarter when the Knicks led 87-100.
Who were the key scorers for New York in the fourth quarter?
Karl-Anthony Towns scored a driving layup after drawing a shooting foul, and Josh Hart contributed with a defensive rebound that led to additional possession, though his points are not specified in the source.