Knicks enter All-Star break on a high note with huge win over Hawks
In their final game before the All-Star break, the Knicks delivered a masterclass of a game to cap off their fourth win in five games, taking down their rival in Atlanta, 122-101. There couldn’t have been a better way to end this part of the season. With Julius Randle heading to the All-Star Game, the Knicks have a lot of momentum heading into the final stretch of the year.
The Hawks may have their first-round victory against the Knicks two seasons ago, but I don’t think there are many doubts that the Knicks have dominated them in the regular season ever since.
New York doesn’t play for another nine days, so this period of rest should hopefully bring blessings to the Knicks as they make their push out of the play-in spot and firmly in the playoffs.
Knicks destroy Hawks on the road in their last game before the All-Star break
This was yet another amazing game out of should-be All-Star Jalen Brunson, who has been incredibly dominant since the start of the new year. Against the Hawks, Brunson dropped 28 points, nine rebounds, and five assists while shooting 10-of-19 from the field and 1-of-6 from three.
Brunson’s percentages from beyond the arc aren’t the best, but considering how well he played in just about every other aspect, you can’t complain.
What made this win even better for most Knicks fans was how poorly both Trae Young and Dejounte Murray played. Young may have had 19 points, but he did so while shooting 4-of-14 from the field while his counterpart in Murray scored just six points in 34 minutes.
The Knicks just flat-out dominated the Hawks on both sides of the ball. Outside of De’Andre Hunter and A.J. Griffin, the Hawks had little-to-no offense. A blowout can be boring at times, but you love to see it happen to a team that talks as much as the Hawks.
Alongside Brunson’s masterclass, we also saw some very solid performances out of Randle, Josh Hart, and Immanuel Quickley, who all contributed greatly towards the victory.
Randle scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on some pretty solid efficiency, Quickley scored 14 of his own on 5-of-11 shooting from the field with some very solid defense. As for Hart, he continued to showcase how important he’s going to be for the team down the stretch.
I don’t think there can be many doubts at this point that the Knicks came out clean in their trade for Josh Hart. Not only were they not playing Cam Reddish, but the pick they traded for him will likely be in the 20s.
Hart’s combination of consistent offense alongside elite defense and effort has been huge for the Knicks and he could be the piece that helps push them into the sixth seed and out of the play-in tournament.
Hopefully, the Knicks keep this winning up as they go past the All-Star break. This will be arguably the biggest stretch for New York as the team has finally reclaimed the sixth seed.
