The New York Knicks triumphed over the Atlanta Hawks in a nail-biting 149-148 victory in overtime, marking the highest-scoring game of the season so far. This electrifying win brought the Knicks' record to 36-18 as they approached the All-Star Game, boasting their best performance through 54 games since the 1996-97 season. The game, which took place on the second night of a back-to-back series for the Knicks, highlighted both challenges and triumphs, amidst impressive individual performances from both teams.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge for the Hawks, finishing with a remarkable 44 points and 10 rebounds. Despite his stellar performance, a crucial turnover in the final seconds of regulation nearly jeopardized the Knicks' chances of securing a victory.
"I would've needed a therapist if we'd come out of that with an L; I'm not gonna lie to you." – Karl-Anthony Towns
Trae Young also shone for Atlanta, contributing significantly with 38 points and an astounding 19 assists. Despite their efforts, the Knicks managed to hold on, even after surrendering an 18-point lead that they had built earlier in the game.
Jalen Brunson emerged as the hero for New York, scoring 36 points, including a decisive pull-up jumper with just 11 seconds left in overtime that ultimately clinched the win.
"There's no set time of whose turn it is or what. I mean, we don't really play like that." – Jalen Brunson
The victory was particularly sweet for the Knicks, who had previously blown a substantial lead against the Hawks earlier in the season. This time around, they ensured history did not repeat itself by holding firm in the closing moments.
Eight different Knicks players contributed over 20 points each, showcasing the team's depth and versatility. Despite some flaws pointed out by their coach, the win provided a much-needed morale boost heading into the All-Star break.
"It's great to go into the break with a win, no matter how we got it." – Jalen Brunson
In an exciting finish, Georges Niang of the Hawks sank a triple with nine seconds remaining to halve the deficit, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. Trae Young reflected on a missed opportunity during those tense final moments.
"I just saw too much of a crowd. I think if we had it to do all over again, we would have spaced it to allow me to go by [Bridges] and draw help or something. I think the screen caused too much combustion at the top." – Trae Young
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