It looked like the Hawks were dead in the water heading into the fourth quarter of tonight’s game two matchup against the New York Knicks, but Atlanta found a way to win and even the series.
This had the look of being a competitive series when the playoffs began and that is exactly what we are going to get. Atlanta now has homecourt in the series and the pressure shifts to the Knicks.
Here are the winners and losers from tonight’s game.
Winner: CJ McCollum
What a game for the veteran guard.
The best player for the Hawks tonight was not Jalen Johnson or Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but McCollum. He scored 32 points and kept Atlanta in it with his ability to score in the clutch. He was 12-22 from the field (3-10 from three) and continiously made New York pay for having Jalen Brunson on him.
Can he keep this up? The Hawks have to want Jalen Johnson and Alexander-Walker to step up, but this was as good as it gets for McCollum.
Loser: Jalen Johnson