Knicks crush Hawks in record-setting 140-89 Game 6 rout to end Atlanta’s
season
[May 01, 2026]
By MAURA CAREY
ATLANTA (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 29 points in 27
minutes, Karl-Anthony Towns had his second triple-double of the series
and the New York Knicks had their biggest playoff victory in franchise
history, overwhelming and eliminating the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6
on Thursday night. |
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates scoring in the
first half during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series
against the Atlanta Hawks Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP
Photo/Brynn Anderson) |
|
The Knicks broke several NBA records by halftime. Their 40-15
lead at the end of the first quarter marked the largest of the
shot clock era. Their 47-point halftime lead was the biggest in
playoff history.
It was New York’s third straight win after falling to 1-2 in the
series following back-to-back one-point losses.
“It speaks volumes on our team that we were able to bounce back
from two disappointing losses,” Towns said. “We had to step up
to the challenge of being down in the series — super proud of
our guys for that.”
New York's 51-point win tied for the sixth-largest margin of
victory in NBA postseason history.
Dyson Daniels and Mitchell Robinson were ejected after fighting
following a pair of free throws from Anunoby that gave the
Knicks a 50-point lead in the second quarter.
The Knicks exceeded 100 points with 8:21 remaining in the third
quarter. New York's starters were done for the night with 2:45
remaining in the third.
“It was just a tough position to be in,” Atlanta's Jalen Johnson
said. “We dug ourselves a deep hole from the start and it was
tough to climb out of that.”
Anunoby scored 26 of his points in the first half. Mikal Bridges
finished with 24. Towns, five days after becoming the fourth
Knicks player with a playoff triple-double, had 12 points, 11
rebounds and 10 assists.
The Hawks were 12 for 39 from the field in the first half and 4
for 18 from 3-point range. Atlanta had 14 turnovers in the first
half.
Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker,
CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga each had 11 points.
The Knicks will face the winner of the Boston Celtics and
Philadelphia 76ers series in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
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