We noticed NBA playoff historical past Thursday because the New York Knicks obliterated the Atlanta Hawks, 140-89, to slam the door on their Jap Convention opening-round sequence.
The Knicks rode a 47-point lead into halftime, breaking the document for the most important halftime margin in a playoff recreation. They fell simply three factors shy of the most important halftime lead in any NBA regular-season or playoff recreation and at one level led by 61 factors, the most important lead in a playoff recreation within the play-by-play period (since 1996-97).
Their 51-point last margin of victory was simply seven shy of tying the playoff document, and their 140 factors have been essentially the most in franchise playoff historical past.
OG Anunoby took over from the opening tip, compiling 29 factors in 27 minutes whereas going 11-of-14 from the sector. Teammate Mikal Bridges piled on one other 24 factors over the identical span, and Karl Anthony Cities led the Knicks in rebounds with 11. He added 12 factors (10 of which got here on free throws) and 10 assists to notch his second triple-double of the sequence. All three left the court docket lengthy earlier than the ultimate quarter.
New York will face both the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers within the subsequent spherical. Listed here are some takeaways from the Knicks’ Sport 6 blowout:
Knicks appeared to need it extra
On Thursday, the Knicks turned a basketball court docket right into a slip-and-slide.
Not lengthy into their humiliation of the Hawks, Jalen Brunson sprawled out for a unfastened ball. Cities adopted him, leaping onto Hawks ahead Mo Gueye and forcing a leap ball. Jose Alvarado dove for an additional unfastened ball. Cities went down for an additional. Anunoby deflected so many passes that the Hawks stopped taking a look at his aspect of the court docket. On the uncommon event they forgot the place he was, he would poke it away once more.
Discuss of urgency surrounded the Knicks all through this sequence. They fell down 2-1 within the best-of-seven sequence as a result of they messed round with lineups they hadn’t used and performed too loosely on offense. In Sport 4, they confirmed up with obligatory depth and, extra importantly, focus, an consideration to element that didn’t exist over the primary three video games. They ran their actions extra sharply. They lower with function. They set bodily screens. However their backs have been in opposition to the wall. They have been pressing as a result of they’d no different selection.
They continued that play into Sport 5, once they took a sequence lead. Now, it was the plucky Hawks in a troublesome spot. The scrappy underdogs who might have punched the Knicks within the mouth. As a substitute, the Knicks performed Thursday as if their season was the one on the road.
They overwhelmed Atlanta in each method they might, on protection, in transition, of their half-court offense. They gained 50-50 balls, as a result of they sacrificed their our bodies to take action. And now, after a number of video games of taking part in with their meals, their season will proceed as a result of they performed with the verve not of a merely good group however of a contender to win the East. — Fred Katz
Bridges bounces again
Did the Knicks’ blowout deliver Bridges again to life heading into the second spherical?
It took his group having one of many greatest beatdowns in fashionable NBA historical past, however Bridges confirmed indicators of life within the Sport 6 win. He scored 24 factors and was a giant a part of a protection that turned the Hawks into an elementary college group.
New York acquired Bridges with the concept that the Celtics can be its greatest foe within the Jap Convention over the subsequent few seasons. It wanted elite wing defenders to match up with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Bridges was a non-factor offensively going into Sport 6, and the probabilities of the Knicks advancing previous Boston for the second straight 12 months (ought to the Celtics beat the 76ers) with out him being an element appear slim.
The Knicks will doubtless want a extra constant model of Bridges than what they received in opposition to Atlanta, whatever the opponent. Bridges was benched for almost all of the second halves in Video games 3 and 4. Ensuring that he’s engaged will likely be important to the Knicks’ success going ahead, and if it took a blowout win for him to search out his confidence once more, so be it. It will be a win inside a win for New York. — James L. Edwards III
A harsh actuality verify
How’s this for ridiculous: The Hawks went on a 9-0 run early within the first quarter … in a recreation through which they trailed by 47 at halftime. In actual fact, Atlanta was solely down 12-11 after 5 minutes. It appeared like we have been able to lock in for a very regular, pressure-filled playoff recreation.
Yeah, not a lot.
For Atlanta, every part very instantly fell aside. The Knicks dialed up the strain, the Hawks crumbled, and subsequent factor you realize, it was a 60-11 run, and the Hawks have been down by 50. FIFTY! The Knicks, already up by 47 factors at halftime, additionally opened the third quarter with a 16-2 run.
As anyone who has attended a number of 1 vs. 16 video games within the NCAA Match, this was essentially the most lopsided basketball recreation I’ve ever witnessed. The Knicks did no matter they wished, and the Hawks might do completely nothing about it.
For Atlanta, the one optimistic is that the Knicks supplied them the last word actuality verify on their place within the league. The Hawks gained 46 video games and two playoff video games; that’s season primarily based on the place they stood coming into the 12 months. They’ve a younger core, an incoming lottery decide and cap flexibility. And now, they don’t have any delusions by any means that they’re anyplace near contending. — John Hollinger