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The New York Knicks have advanced to the next round of the NBA Playoffs following a commanding victory over the Atlanta Hawks. On Thursday night (April 30), the Knicks secured a 140-89 win at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, clinching the best-of-seven series 4-2. The Knicks' victory was marked by a record-breaking 47-point halftime lead—the largest in NBA playoff history—and a final margin of 51 points, tying for the sixth-largest postseason win ever.
The game saw standout performances from OG Anunoby, who scored 29 points in just 27 minutes, and Karl-Anthony Towns, who achieved his second triple-double of the series. The Knicks' dominance was evident early on, with a 40-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. By halftime, the lead had ballooned to 83-36, as reported by WKYC.
Tensions flared during the game when Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks and Dyson Daniels of the Hawks were ejected after a scuffle, following a pair of free throws by Anunoby that extended the Knicks' lead to 50 points. Despite the altercation, the Knicks maintained their composure and finished strong, with New York's starters resting by the third quarter's end, as noted by ESPN.
Looking ahead, the Knicks will face either the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The decisive Game 7 between the Celtics and 76ers is scheduled for Saturday (May 2). If Boston wins, the Knicks will travel to Boston for Game 1 on Monday (May 4); otherwise, the series will begin in New York, according to MSN.
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