The Knicks defeat the Hawks, 140-89, to close out the series, 4-2, and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The New York Knicks are headed back to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for a fourth consecutive season. But the way they did proved unlike any previous trip — not only in Knicks history, but also NBA history.
Paced by the ultra-efficient wing combo of OG Anunoby (29 points, 11-for-14 FGs) and Mikal Bridges (24 points, 10-12 FGs), and a triple-double from Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), the Knicks earned a 140-89 Game 6 victory to advance, ending Atlanta’s season.
After suffering back-to-back one-point losses in Games 2 and 3 to go down 2-1 in the series, the Knicks never lost again. They posted one dominant win after another — a 16-point victory in Game 4 in Atlanta, a 29-point triumph in Game 5 in New York, and an emphatic 51-point closeout victory in Game 6 on the road.
That’s a plus-96 over the final three games of the series for the Knicks, making a loud statement as the first Eastern Conference team to punch its ticket to the conference semifinals.
Here are four takeaways from Thursday night:
1. Knicks deliver a first-half knockout
The Knicks set an NBA playoff record in Game 6, taking a 47-point halftime lead (83-36) against the Hawks, powered by a 43-6 run.
Four minutes into Game 6, the Hawks held an 11-9 lead as the crowd settled in for a win-or-go-home contest for the home team.
What followed over the next 20 minutes of game action left everyone in the building — and everyone watching at home — flabbergasted.
Beginning with an Anunoby 3-pointer with 7:50 remaining in the opening quarter, the Knicks scored 14 straight points to take a 12-point lead. But the floodgates had just opened. New York closed the opening quarter on a 31-4 run to take a 40-15 lead, with Anunoby leading the way (14 points, 6-7 FGs).
The Knicks were playing with the energy, intensity and relentlessness usually reserved for a team facing elimination. They swarmed on defense, forcing eight Hawks turnovers, and pushed the ball in transition for easy baskets time and again.
And they never let up. New York followed up its first-quarter haymaker with another wallop in the second quarter, outscoring the Hawks 43-21. They led by as many as 50 points in the first half and went into the locker room up 83-36.
“Our guys, their connectedness right now is off the charts,” said Knicks coach Mike Brown. “And when you lock into the details and you’re connected like that with a group that is as talented and versatile as that group, you have a chance to do that.”
The Knicks’ 74-25 run to close the half turned a two-point deficit into a 47-point halftime lead — the largest in NBA playoff history, eclipsing the previous record of 41 points.
“It speaks volumes about our team. When we’re locked in and playing close to our best, we’re really, really good,” Towns said. “So, it’s about finding that team, that version of us, consistently, especially in a seven-game series. Just tapping into that version of us more often than not.”
Even with the game well in hand, the Knicks continued to build on their advantage in the second half, leading by as many as 61 points — the largest lead in a playoff game during the play-by-play era (since 1997-98). Both teams pulled their starters in the final frame as New York cruised.
2. Bridges finding his way
bridges collecting tolls 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/YLu9zj5gPf
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 1, 2026
After scoring in double figures in each of the first two games, Mikal Bridges posted a total of 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting in Games 3-5 combined.
But Thursday was a different story for Bridges, who thrived during the Knicks’ onslaught. He finished with 24 points on 10-for-12 shooting, while scoring at all three levels – finishing at the hoop in transition, hitting stepback jumpers in the midrange and a pair of 3-pointers.
“It’s great — he just did what he’s capable of doing,” Brown said. “Now, is he going to go 10-for-12 every night? No. But he was aggressive. He took great shots. And I wouldn’t let it go unnoticed that his defense was phenomenal. … It was a big night on both ends of the floor from Mikal.”
3. Knicks await winner of Celtics-Sixers Game 7
While the Knicks were able to close out their first-round series on the road, the No. 2 seed Celtics were unable to do the same in Philadelphia as the 76ers earned a 106-93 win to force a Game 7 (Sat., 7:30 ET on NBC/Peacock).
The Knicks await the winner, with Game 1 of the conference semifinals set for Monday, May 4.
But don’t worry about the Knicks feeling complacent:
“It’s something that we’re going to have to flush, turn the page, and get ready,” Brunson said. “Happy with the way we performed, but it’s time to turn the page and refocus up.”
A Celtics win would set up a rematch with the Knicks. Last year’s series saw the Knicks win in six games after the Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to an Achilles tear in Game 4.
New York won this year’s regular-season series with Boston 3-1, including a 112-106 win on April 9 that featured the Celtics back at full strength following Tatum’s return to the court in March. It was Tatum’s first game back at Madison Square Garden, the very place where he suffered the devastating injury 11 months prior.
The Knicks split their season series with the Sixers, with New York winning the two most recent matchups, including a 49-point win on Feb. 11 in Philadelphia. However, none of the regular-season meetings between the Knicks and Sixers featured Joel Embiid, who has averaged 26 points in his three games in the opening round.
4. A morose ending to Hawks’ turnaround season
Sitting as low as 10th in the East as the calendar flipped to 2026, the Hawks reshaped their roster with a number of trades prior to the February trade deadline.
Former face of the franchise Trae Young was traded to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Offseason addition Kristaps Porziņģis was traded to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. Luke Kennard was traded to Los Angeles for Gabe Vincent. Jock Landale was acquired from Utah in a three-team deal with Chicago.
With new pieces surrounding All-Star forward Jalen Johnson and Kia Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Hawks went 20-6 from the All-Star break to the close of the regular season. That was the best mark in the East and the third-best record in the NBA down the stretch.
The Hawks had risen to the No. 6 seed in the East and carried that momentum into the playoffs, taking a 2-1 series lead on the No. 3 seed Knicks before New York was able to turn the tide back in their favor.
Despite the lopsided loss to end their season, the 2025-26 campaign is one for the Hawks to build on as they look toward their future.
“Well, for one, the way we lost was, I think, at no point in time at all this season were we that bad. But we were tonight, and it’s unfortunate,” said Alexander-Walker. “But the good thing about it is, it doesn’t end here. This is something to build on. This is something to grow and learn from.
“For me, I’m glad this is part of my story. It’s something for me that I can embrace, I can hold my head high as a man and say I lost, and even though it was a beating, I’m excited for what this means to send me into the summer.”
* * *
Brian Martin has covered the NBA and WNBA for more than 15 years. You can e-mail him here and follow him on X.
