The Hawks vs Knicks showdown reached a fever pitch in the final seconds. Trailing by just one point, Brunson lost his handle on the ball as the clock ticked down. Because of this late turnover, the Knicks’ massive fourth-quarter comeback fell just short. Now, New York finds itself in a deep hole after losing two straight games.
CJ McCollum Emerges as the Ultimate Villain
CJ McCollum has officially become the biggest nightmare for New York fans in this Hawks vs Knicks series. With only 12.7 seconds remaining, McCollum drilled a cold-blooded jumper to give Atlanta the lead. While Brunson has struggled to find his rhythm, McCollum has dominated the highlight reel.
Furthermore, the Knicks are definitely reeling after this loss. They trailed by 11 points with eight minutes left but fought back with incredible grit. However, McCollum’s late-game heroics shifted the entire balance of the series back to the home team.
A Wild Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Flat
The Hawks vs Knicks Game 3 was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts. With about four minutes left, Jalen Johnson blocked Karl-Anthony Towns at the rim in a massive defensive play. OG Anunoby quickly grabbed the rebound and drained a desperate three-pointer to cut the lead to two.
Following a defensive stop, the Knicks actually looked like they would flip the script. Miles McBride, playing in place of a benched Mikal Bridges, hit a clutch triple to tie the game with 1:41 remaining. Shortly after, a tough “and-1” from Brunson gave New York a three-point lead.
The Final Meltdown at State Farm Arena
Despite the lead, the Knicks could not close the door on the Hawks vs Knicks contest. Brunson had a chance to ice the game but uncharacteristically air-balled a shot with 16.4 seconds left. This mistake opened the door for McCollum to hit the winning bucket.
While the sports world focuses on MS Dhoni returning to the IPL and the Election Commission of India managing crucial polls, NBA fans are glued to this playoff drama. The Knicks are not out yet, but they are firmly on the back foot. They must find a way to stop McCollum before Game 4 turns into a disaster.