Knicks Survive Late Scare in Atlanta as Towns and Brunson Combine for 70

It wasn’t pretty, and for a few breathless moments in the final minute, it looked like it might slip away entirely. But on a night where the New York Knicks needed every ounce of star power to mask a depleted rotation, their big guns delivered.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson combined for 70 points, willing the Knicks to a gritty 128-125 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. The win snapped the Hawks’ hearts in front of a capacity crowd at State Farm Arena, sending Atlanta to their sixth consecutive defeat while the Knicks found a way to grind out a result on the road.

“You have to find ways to win ugly sometimes,” is the old coaching adage, but there was nothing ugly about the stat sheet for New York’s top duo. Towns was a force of nature, posting a season-high 36 points and ripping down 16 rebounds. He was efficient, aggressive, and nearly automatic from the stripe, hitting 17 of 18 free throws. Brunson was his usual steadying presence, dropping 34 points and navigating the offense through choppy waters.

Yet, despite the offensive fireworks, the emotional weight of the game landed squarely on the shoulders of OG Anunoby in the closing seconds.

Anunoby Saves the Day

With less than a minute remaining, the momentum had swung violently toward the home team. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who poured in 25 points off the bench for Atlanta, picked a passing lane, stole the ball, and converted a layup to give the Hawks a 125-124 lead with 48 seconds left. The noise in the arena was deafening. The Knicks, who had led comfortably for stretches, were suddenly staring down the barrel of a collapse.

Enter Anunoby.

The forward, known more for his defensive stoicism than clutch free-throw shooting, drew a critical foul with the clock ticking down. He calmly sank two free throws to reclaim the lead. But he wasn’t done. On the ensuing possession, with Trae Young looking to create magic, Anunoby read the play perfectly. He intercepted Young’s pass—a turnover that sucked the air out of the building—and was immediately fouled. Two more free throws later, the game was iced.

Anunoby finished with a workmanlike 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, but those three steals—none bigger than the last one—were the difference between a flight home celebrating a win and a somber locker room.

Dominating the Glass

If you want to know how the Knicks survived a night where Atlanta shot 48% from the field and nearly 40% from deep, look no further than the rebounding margin. New York bullied the Hawks on the boards, finishing with a massive 56-38 advantage (63-47 in total rebounds according to some metrics).

Towns led the way, but it was a team effort to clean the glass. In the absence of Josh Hart and Deuce McBride—both sidelined with ankle sprains—the Knicks needed physicality from everyone. Mohamed Diawara, thrust into the starting lineup for Hart, held his own, while Kevin McCullar Jr. chipped in with 8 rebounds and 2 steals off the bench.

This dominance allowed New York to overcome a spirited performance from Atlanta’s frontcourt. Onyeka Okongwu played the game of his life for the Hawks, putting up 31 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Johnson was a triple-double threat all night, finishing with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists before fouling out.

Young Struggles as Hawks Slide Continues

For Atlanta, the narrative is becoming increasingly grim. Losing six straight games puts immense pressure on a franchise trying to find its footing. Trae Young, playing through a lingering knee issue, looked like a shell of his usual self scoring-wise. He dished out 10 assists but managed only nine points, struggling to find rhythm against New York’s aggressive perimeter defense.

The Hawks fought admirably in the fourth quarter, outscoring New York 36-30 and nearly pulling off the heist. But moral victories don’t count in the standings, and the frustration was palpable on the Atlanta bench as the final buzzer sounded.

What’s Next for the Knicks?

The road trip continues for New York, but they’ll sleep a little easier tonight. They head to New Orleans on Monday to face the Pelicans, hoping to get Hart or McBride back in the lineup.

For now, though, they can take solace in the fact that their stars are shining bright. When the game slowed down and the pressure ratcheted up, Towns and Brunson proved they could carry the load, and Anunoby proved he could close the door. In the NBA, that’s a formula that wins you games in December—and hopefully, in May.