Knicks use vintage Jalen Brunson performance to blow out Hawks 126-97 and take 3-2 series lead

Saying the Knicks controlled this game from start to finish may actually be an understatement. Atlanta's last lead of the game was at 4-2, and the last time they had the game within single digits, the score was 29-20. The Hawks were able to cut it to 10 points a couple of times in the first half, but that was it, and then both teams emptied the benches with four minutes left in the game.

Much like in the last game in New York, the Knicks came out with obvious defensive intensity. They were flying to their closeouts, rotating on their help assignments, and making it hard for the Hawks to get off clean looks. In the first quarter, the Knicks forced four turnovers and blocked two shots, while scoring four points off those turnovers and taking a 35-22 lead.

A key tactical change on defense was the way in which the Knicks forced the ball out of CJ McCollum’s hands. While Brunson still guarded McCollum when he was in the game, the Knicks were more aggressive in helping off the other Hawks players. Towns or Mitchell Robinson were almost always lurking in the paint, and then the Knicks had the nearest help defender shading more intentionally towards McCollum.

If McCollum tried to drive or had a step on Brunson, the help defender was there to cut off the lane and force McCollum to give up the ball. When he did, the Knicks were flying to close out on the perimeter and forcing the Hawks to swing the ball multiple times to find the open man. Oftentimes, that open man was Dyson Daniels, who it seemed like the Knicks were intentionally forcing the ball to.