The New York Knicks are out! In Game 5, the Atlanta Hawks dominated again around Star Point Guard Trae Young, while Julius Randle had huge problems. Atlanta wins the series thanks to the 103:89 success with 4-1.
New York Knicks (4) – Atlanta Hawks (5) 89:103 (BOXSCORE) – Serie: 1-4
The starting five of the Hawks once again made the difference. Trae Young didn’t hit much for a long time, but in the end he still had 36 points (10/28 FG, 13/15 FT) and 9 assists for him, and the Guard scored 16 points in the final section. Clint Capela (14, 15 rebounds) cleared everything away under the basket, De’Andre Hunter (15) and John Collins (13, 7 rebounds) also knew how to please.
Julius Randle (20, 8/21 FG, 13 rebounds) was the best scorer for the Knicks, but in addition to poor throwing selection, the 8 ball losses were a big problem. Derrick Rose (6, 3/11 FG, 5 assists) made his weakest game of the series, and RJ Barrett (17, 5/14 FG) also fell short of his possibilities. As a team, the Knicks hit just 38 percent from the field.
Randle then noted that he was proud of his team. “It’s hard for me to come to terms with this end, but we’ll be back,” said the all-star, who struggled with his throw throughout the series.
Knicks: Turnovers remain a problem
There were no personnel changes on either side compared to Game 4 and many things looked similar on the field. Reggie Bullock had no chance against Young’s speed, the Hawks got so easily into the heart of the defense and to easy points. Bullock delivered offensively, his three transformed distance throws were the small bright spots of the rough start of the Knicks.
For their part, the Hawks also needed ten attempts from a distance until Kevin Huerter hit a threesome. Randle, on the other hand, stabilized after a weak start and was already at 10 counters, 8 rebounds, but also 4 ball losses. After twelve minutes everything was equal (21:21).
The competition continued, both teams stayed below 40 percent for a long time, and it wasn’t until the middle of the second quarter that the Hawks found better solutions and easy results again close to the ring. Young hardly hit anything, but Huerter had good minutes, the same was true for Hunter. With 52:47 for the Hawks it was in the cabins, on the way there still clashed Nerlens Noel and Solomon Hill, it was a total of three technicals. Everything was set up for a hot second half.
Trae Young kills the curtsey in the fourth quarter – and bows
Atlanta initially kept a cool head and achieved the highest lead of the evening thanks to 9 points in a row (12). The Knicks offense stuttered again, Randle threw the ball away several times, Rose was also hardly a factor. Madison Square Garden fell silent. Atlanta seemed to decide all 50/50 situations for itself, after all, 4 points from Immanuel Quickley (11) provided a little hope. The Hawks took a 74-62 lead in the final twelve minutes.
New York smelled the morning breeze again when the backlog turned into single digits, but with the start of the Hawks on the field the picture changed again. Young made 7 points in 90 seconds, and within a short time the two teams were separated again by 19 points. The Knicks got no closer than -12, a threesome from Young followed by a bow to the audience was the end of the series.
“I know where we are here. I know that there are a lot of shows in this city,” commented Young afterwards. “And I know what they’re doing there when the show is over.”
The Hawks win a playoff series for the first time since 2016 and now face the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Semifinals, who beat the Washington Wizards almost at the same time and thus also prevailed in the series with 4-1.
Knicks vs. Hawks: the series at a glance
| game | date | Home | Away | Results |
| 1 | 24. May | Knicks | Hawks | 105:107 |
| 2 | 27. May | Knicks | Hawks | 101:92 |
| 3 | 29. May | Hawks | Knicks | 105:94 |
| 4 | 30. May | Hawks | Knicks | 113:96 |
| 5 | 3. June | Knicks | Hawks | 89:103 |
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