NEW YORK– It was instantly apparent that Jalen Brunson was ready for postseason basketball as his New York Knicks outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday evening.
The Villanova product tallied 19 first-quarter points en route to posting 28 points, five rebounds, and seven assists while shooting 9-of-22 from the field. When all was said and done, Knicks head coach Mike Brown provided an honest assessment of what Brunson’s initial barrage meant to the team.
“He stepped up to the plate like he should have done, and he hit some big shots for us early to help us get out front,” Brown told reporters.
Jalen Brunson helped put the Knicks on the right track
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Despite the final score, the contest was initially close. After outscoring the Knicks 31-27 in the second quarter, Atlanta only trailed by two points entering halftime. CJ McCollum and Jalen Johnson each provided necessary boosts, with the former scoring 26 points and the latter putting up 23 points. The Hawks were also aided by Dyson Daniels, who earned a game-high 11 assists.
Without Brunson’s strong start, it is fair to wonder if the group would have maintained an edge once the break arrived. Further, the All-Star’s showing allowed others to make their presence felt as the game progressed.
“He’s going to have quarters where he gets going,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said of Brunson.
Teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby also enjoyed effective games. Towns collected 25 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Anunoby contributed 18 points on a strong 6-for-9 clip from the field.
Brunson and the Knicks passed their first test of the 2026 postseason, and even though Brunson only compiled nine points outside of the first quarter, he made it a point to acknowledge that winning requires the kind of resilience that initial momentum could foster.
“No matter what, you gotta think positive,” Brunson said. “You’ve got to be positive and fight through anything.”
NEW YORK– It was instantly apparent that Jalen Brunson was ready for postseason basketball as his New York Knicks outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday evening. The Villanova product tallied 19 first-quarter points en route to posting 28 points, five rebounds, and seven assists while shooting 9-of-22 from the field.