Knicks return to MSG for decisive Game 5 after tying the series

The New York Knicks are back at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night for Game 5 against the Atlanta Hawks, with the first-round series tied 2-2. (nba.com) The Knicks got here by winning Game 4 in Atlanta, 114-98, on April 25 and wiping out the Hawks' 2-1 series lead. (nba.com) (espn.com.au) Karl-Anthony Towns led that response with his first postseason triple-double, while OG Anunoby scored 22 points in the series-leveling win. (espn.com.au) (nba.com) NBA.com's Game 5 preview said New York is trying to carry over the "tone-setting first quarter" it opened with in Game 4. The league lists Tuesday's game for 8 p.m. Eastern in New York. (nba.com) The first four games have all been close to a split: New York won Game 1, 113-102; Atlanta stole Game 2, 107-106; the Hawks edged Game 3, 109-108; and the Knicks answered in Game 4. (nba.com) (espn.com) That makes Game 5 the pivot point of the series. The NBA schedule lists Game 6 for Thursday, April 30, in Atlanta, with Game 7 set for Saturday, May 2, in New York if needed. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) New York finished the regular season 53-29, while Atlanta entered the playoffs at 46-36. The Knicks also beat the Hawks 108-105 in their last regular-season meeting on April 6. (nba.com) Madison Square Garden has already seen one playoff split in this matchup. Atlanta took Game 2 there by one point after New York opened the series with an 11-point win. (nba.com) (espn.com) Tuesday's winner will leave with a 3-2 lead and one chance to close the series on April 30. The loser will be one defeat from elimination. (nba.com)