OG Anunoby Sparks New York Knicks' 140-89 Rout Over Hawks
The new york knicks overwhelmed the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 on Thursday, ending the Eastern Conference opening-round series and moving on to the second round. They led by 47 at halftime and never let the margin come back into reach.
That 47-point halftime lead broke the record for the largest halftime margin in a playoff game. The Knicks also led by 61 points at one point, the biggest edge in a playoff game in the play-by-play era since 1996-97.
OG Anunoby Drives The Surge
OG Anunoby scored 29 points in 27 minutes and shot 11-for-14 from the field. Mikal Bridges added 24 points, giving New York two clear perimeter scorers before the game was out of hand.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 11 rebounds, 12 points and 10 assists for his second triple-double of the series. He, Anunoby and Bridges all left the court long before the final quarter, a sign of how quickly the game turned into a runaway.
Karl-Anthony Towns Adds Control
The Knicks also recovered from an uneven start to the series. They fell down 2-1 after the first three games, then won Game 4 to even the series and Game 5 to take the lead before closing it out Thursday.
Jalen Brunson sprawled out for a loose ball, and Towns jumped onto Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye to force a jump ball. Jose Alvarado also dove for another loose ball during the game, part of a night when New York won every physical battle that mattered and turned it into the most lopsided playoff result in franchise memory.
New York's 51-point margin was seven shy of the playoff record, but the 140 points stood as the most in Knicks playoff history. Their next opponent will be either the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers, and after a finish like this, the series they just ended already looks the shortest part of the run.
