ATLANTA — Jalen Brunson had the ball in his hands with a chance to win.
Captain Clutch came up empty.
Trailing by one point in the final seconds, Brunson turned the ball over as the Knicks’ comeback fell short in a 109-108 loss to the Hawks in Game 3 Thursday night at State Farm Arena. The Knicks now trail the series 2-1.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looses the ball to Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) during the fourth quarter on April 23, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after he is called for a foul during the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson threw his hands up in exasperation as his pass trickled away from Josh Hart and Hawks-colored confetti fell from the rafters. After trailing by 11 with 8:06 left in the game, the Knicks had a chance to flip the script and pull off their own late-game stunner after collapsing in Game 2.
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But in the biggest moment, they didn’t even get a shot off. It took a while to get Brunson the ball — and when he finally got it, the Hawks doubled him in the corner with Onyeka Okongwu and Jonathan Kuminga. Brunson’s pass bounced past Hart, and that was that.
And it was CJ McCollum, the biggest Knicks villain this series, yet again who twisted the knife into the Knicks’ hearts. After going quiet in the second half, he drilled the go-ahead bucket with 12.7 seconds left. It has been McCollum, not Brunson, who has owned this series.
Jalen Brunson turned the ball over in the final seconds to seal the Knicks’ loss. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“This should sting,” coach Mike Brown said after the game. “Because we gave ourselves a chance, knowing that we didn’t play our best basketball, so it should sting.
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“We need to feel it and get ready to be locked in for the next game, which we will be.”
OG Anunoby hit a 3-pointer with 3:50 left to cut the Knicks’ deficit to just two points. He soon after hit another 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one point. Miles McBride — on the floor in place of the benched Mikal Bridges — hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 1:41 left.
Brunson’s and-1 gave the Knicks a 3-point lead with 52.6 seconds left. He then had a chance to ice the game on the next and penultimate possession, but air-balled after the offense broke down with 16.4 seconds left. Then came McCollum’s dagger. Then came Brunson’s game-ending turnover.
“I wish I had a better answer for you,” Brunson said when asked to explain the last two possessions. “I got nothing right now.”
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) goes up for a shot between New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In truth, it wasn’t just Brunson who came up empty. The Knicks as a whole came up empty.
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They shot just 43.0 percent from the field and a paltry 28.6 percent from 3-point range. They committed 18 turnovers. In the first half, they were unable to slow down the Hawks defensively.
Brunson finished with 26 points, but he was overburdened, missed all five of his 3-pointers and had three turnovers. He was also torched by McCollum again, forcing the Knicks to switch their coverage. McCollum had 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field in the first half. It was Hart, who switched onto McCollum in the second half, who managed to slow him down.
Until the final moments, at least.
“It hurts more that we put ourselves in position to win but we just didn’t close the show,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “I think that’s why everyone is emotional. It’s tough, but we’ve got to keep our heads up. It’s OK to be disappointed. That means we care. We’ve got to get the next one.”
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In Bridges’ growing list of lowlights, this was right at the top. He went scoreless, having missed all three shots he took, and committed four turnovers. He was a game-worst minus-26.
And he was benched twice — in the third quarter and the fourth quarter.
Hart, other than his good defense, had nine rebounds and six assists. But he had just two points and was 1-for-9 from the field.
Towns and Anunoby were the only starters with steady offensive production. McBride hit five threes off the bench.
“Right now,” Hart said, “there’s no room to feel sorry for ourselves.”
Jalen Brunson (11) reacts on the court during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After the Knicks fell behind with 5:59 left in the first quarter, they trailed until McBride tied the game with 1:41 left in the game. Their deficit reached as much as 18 points. For the vast majority, it was one-sided. The late comeback should not mask the larger issues the Knicks are having in this matchup.
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“There’s a lot of things throughout the game that myself can be better at,” Brunson said. “Missed opportunity for sure.”
Hart held his head in a towel in the locker room after the game. Towns held his head in his hands, staring at the floor. Brunson, at the podium, searched for answers.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) goes up for a shot in front of Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Ring the alarm bells. Hit the panic button.
The Knicks might not yet be on the ropes. But they’re certainly reeling.
And now they’re firmly on the back foot.