Knicks win opener
- New York beat Atlanta 113-102 in Game 1, paced by Jalen Brunson’s 28 points and late second-half push. (x.com) - Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points in the second half while OG Anunoby added 18 and 8 rebounds. (x.com) - The win checked off an important opening-night result as the Knicks aim to set series tone early. (x.com)
New York opened its first-round series by beating Atlanta 113-102 on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead at Madison Square Garden. (espn.com) Jalen Brunson scored 28 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 after scoring 19 in the second half. OG Anunoby added 18 points and eight rebounds for New York. (espn.com) Atlanta led 55-57 at halftime, but New York won the third quarter 26-19 and the fourth 30-28 to pull away. The Knicks built a lead that reached 19 points in the second half. (espn.com) The opener put New York ahead in a best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round matchup between the No. 3 Knicks and No. 6 Hawks. Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, April 20, with the series still in New York before shifting to Atlanta for Game 3 on Thursday, April 23. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) For the Knicks, the result answered the first playoff question every home favorite faces: whether it can protect home court immediately. New York went 53-29 in the regular season and 30-10 at home, while Atlanta entered the playoffs at 46-36. (espn.com) The matchup also renews a playoff pairing with history. The franchises met in the 2021 Eastern Conference first round, when Atlanta eliminated New York in five games. (nba.com) Game 1 did not end the series, but it gave the Knicks the start they were chasing: one win, one home game held, and a 1-0 edge before Monday night. (nba.com)
