Jalen Brunson breaks free as Knicks take away Hawks' oxygen
Jalen Brunson delivered a dominant 39-point performance in Game 5, leading the New York Knicks to a 126-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks and pushing them to the brink of elimination. The Knicks controlled the game from the start, stifling Atlanta’s transition offense and overwhelming them with physicality and ball movement. By shifting offensive focus to Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in pick-and-roll actions, New York exploited defensive adjustments made by the Hawks. Atlanta struggled to generate rhythm, as New York disrupted their pace, limited fast-break opportunities, and dominated the boards.
- ▪Jalen Brunson scored 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting with 8 assists and just 1 turnover in 35 minutes.
- ▪The Knicks outrebounded the Hawks 48-27 and outscored them 60-42 in the paint.
- ▪Atlanta’s transition game was largely shut down, managing only 4 fast-break points on 8.7% of possessions.
- ▪Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
- ▪The Knicks led by double digits for the entire final three quarters, with Atlanta’s last lead coming less than a minute into the game.
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