Jalen Brunson ignites Knicks in playoff-opening win over Hawks
NEW YORK — For the Knicks, this postseason isn’t just about surviving a round. It’s about making the entire direction of the franchise feel justified. That was the weight inside Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
An early exit would darken the summer before it even began. A deeper run could validate the decision to move on from Tom Thibodeau, hand the bench to Mike Brown and trust this core to chase something bigger than a decent regular season. So, when the Knicks needed someone to seize Game 1 before the nerves and pressure could settle in, Jalen Brunson gave them exactly that.
Playoff Brunson showed up early, then stayed in command long enough to carry the Knicks to a 113-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their first-round series. Brunson dazzled from the jump, finishing with 28 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Karl-Anthony Towns shook off a sluggish opening half and added 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while OG Anunoby chipped in 19 points and eight rebounds on a 47.
5% shooting night for the Knicks. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26 points on 11-for-20 shooting. The Knicks will carry a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on Monday in Manhattan.
Brunson wasted no time setting the tone. He scored 10 of the Knicks’ first 12 points, then kept cooking. By the end of the first quarter, he had piled up 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, turning what could’ve been a jittery playoff opening into a true show of force.
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