Knicks blown lead, lose Game 2
- The New York Knicks blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 107-106 to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2. - The dramatic collapse tied the series at 1-1 after Tuesday’s result. - Postgame reaction was sharp, with critics blaming late decisions and turnovers as the Knicks’ honeymoon ended ( ).
New York had a 12-point lead entering the fourth quarter and still lost Game 2, a 107-106 swing that sent this series back to even. (nba.com) The Hawks won the fourth quarter 28-15 at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, with C.J. McCollum scoring 32 points and hitting the go-ahead basket with 34 seconds left. Mikal Bridges then missed at the buzzer after McCollum missed two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining. (espn.com) Jalen Brunson scored 29 points for the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns had 18, and Josh Hart said afterward, “This is a game we should have won.” Game 3 is Thursday, April 23, in Atlanta. (espn.com) The collapse cut against New York’s regular-season profile. NBA.com noted the Knicks were 39-0 this season when leading by at least 12 points in the fourth quarter before Monday’s loss. (nba.com) It also landed in a place Knicks fans know too well. The New York Daily News reported the franchise had blown a 12-point fourth-quarter playoff lead only once before, in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals. (nydailynews.com) Atlanta’s comeback had a clear target late. NBA.com’s film review said the Hawks repeatedly attacked Brunson in switches during the final minutes, creating key scores for Jonathan Kuminga, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and McCollum. (nba.com) Postgame scrutiny turned quickly to Mike Brown. SNY reported Brown said the Knicks needed to “lockdown better” and pointed to bad turnovers and missed free throws as the main reasons the game got away. (sports.yahoo.com) Outside reaction focused on Brown’s late-game choices and his rotation pattern. The New York Post said Brown has preferred to sit both Brunson and Towns at the start of the second and fourth quarters, while Larry Brown Sports highlighted criticism of his decision not to stop play before the final possession. (nypost.com) (larrybrownsports.com) The series now shifts south with the score tied 1-1, and the Knicks are carrying a loss that looked settled before the fourth quarter started. (nba.com)
