The New York Knicks walked into State Farm Arena on Thursday night with a chance to close out the Atlanta Hawks and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Three of the first five games were decided by a single possession.
Game 6 was not.
New York dismantled Atlanta from the opening tip and never stopped. The final score was 140-89, a 51-point margin that rewrote the record books and left no room for debate about which team belongs in the next round.
Alvarado Says It All
Jose Alvarado left the court Thursday night and summed up the performance in five words.
“Belt to a** right there,” Alvarado said.
The Knicks played Game 6 with that same energy from tip to final buzzer, and Alvarado’s postgame line captured it better than any box score could.
The tone was set early and it never wavered. New York built a 47-point halftime lead, the largest in playoff history. At its peak, New York’s advantage ballooned to 61 points, a margin that has not been seen in a playoff game since the league began tracking play-by-play data in 1996. By the time the starters checked out, the game had long since been decided.
GettyJosh Hart #3 and Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
KAT, Brunson, and What This Team Can Be
Karl-Anthony Towns had one of the stranger stat lines of the postseason. He went to the free throw line ten times and did not miss, finishing with 12 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds, for his second triple-double of the series. Atlanta had no answer for him, and his presence opened up everything else.
Jalen Brunson finished with 17 points and 8 assists and kept his message simple after the win.
“Feel good about it tonight,” Brunson said. “Tomorrow, we turn the page.”
He meant it. New York is not done. The Eastern Conference semifinals are next, and either the Celtics or the 76ers will be waiting.
GettyKarl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
How the Knicks Made History
OG Anunoby was the loudest statement New York made on Thursday night. He was nearly perfect from the field, missing just three of his attempts across 27 minutes, and finished with 29 points while being a force on both ends that Atlanta simply could not contain.
On the other wing, Mikal Bridges added 24 points in a performance that mattered beyond the scoreline. Questions about his rhythm heading into the second round were legitimate after a difficult series. Thursday gave him an answer.
Josh Hart suited up despite a sore back and contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. That willingness to play through discomfort on a closeout night said something about where this team’s head was.
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 30: Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Knicks
The Knicks are through to the second round. They made history doing it.
Thursday was the version of this team that scares everyone. Anunoby locked in. Bridges finding his shot. Towns controlling the game without needing to score. Brunson directing traffic with ease. That team can compete with anyone in the East.
Alvarado summed it up.
Knicks’ Jose Alvarado Drops Major Quote After Historic Win Over Hawks