Knicks use fast start, Karl Anthony Towns' triple-double to defeat Hawks 114-98 in Game 4
The New York Knicks took control early and never let go Saturday, riding a balanced performance and a triple-double from Karl-Anthony Towns to beat the Atlanta Hawks 114-98 in Game 4.
Towns finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, controlling the game inside, facilitating the offense and anchoring a Knicks team that looked comfortable from start to finish. OG Anunoby led all scorers with 22 points and added 10 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson chipped in 19 points, including three 3-pointers.
"I thought we did a great job coming out with more tenacity, more desperation," Towns said. "In a pivotal game like tonight, we needed to be our best. I thought we not only met the challenge, but we exceeded the expectation."
The Knicks' ball movement and spacing stood out. They knocked down 14 shots from beyond the arc and consistently turned defensive stops into easy offense, building a double-digit lead by halftime and stretching it even further in the third.
"The difference today was instead of trying to lead people to a spot, I just passed it to where they were," Towns said. "That allowed them to make plays and get comfortable."
Atlanta had its moments early, briefly keeping pace as Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum found scoring opportunities, but the Hawks went cold late in the first quarter and never fully recovered. A 19-14 deficit quickly ballooned as New York tightened up defensively and capitalized on turnovers.
McCollum finished with 17 points, his lowest of the series, while Johnson was held to 14. The Hawks struggled from deep, shooting just 2 of 7 from 3-point range early and failing to keep up with New York's perimeter shooting throughout the game.
"They played better than us. They played harder," McCollum said. "We had 12 turnovers in the first half. Those are momentum-swinging plays that let them get comfortable."
Even when Atlanta tried to rally in the second half, the Knicks had an answer. Timely 3-pointers from Anunoby and Brunson, plus second-chance points from players like Mitchell Robinson, kept momentum firmly on New York's side.
The atmosphere reflected the stakes, dueling chants echoed throughout the arena, with Hawks supporters trying to spark a push while Knicks fans grew louder as the lead expanded.
In the end, though, it was all New York; efficient, composed, and in control for nearly the entire night.
Head coach Quin Snyder pointed to effort in key areas as the difference.
"We didn't do the things we need to do to have success against them," Snyder said. "Turnovers hurt us, and we didn't crash the glass or come up with 50/50 balls. The ball got stagnant, and you've got to give them credit, their aggressiveness, especially Josh Hart, made an impact."
With the series tied at 2-2 and momentum shifting, the Hawks now face a tough task trying to regroup after their most lopsided performance yet.
"We would've liked to be up 3-1," McCollum said. "But if you told us before the series started we'd be 2-2 going back to the Garden, life's not so bad."
Game 5 will be played Tuesday at 8 p.m. in New York.
