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We have three closing games tonight in the NBA, which is about as exciting as it gets in the playoffs. So far, there have been great games in the NBA and none of the series are complete in the Eastern Conference. The first of these matchups tonight is between the Knicks and the Hawks.
This has been an interesting series for the Knicks. I’ve mentioned this in previous articles about this series, but New York has definitely been the best team in the series. The Knicks have won three games by double digits and both losses were by one point each. They’ve looked like the better team in probably the five games up to this point, and now they just need to be the better team once again. Aside from a couple of bad quarters, the Knicks have been able to effectively handle the Hawks’ defense. They have also been able to score at will in the last two games.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts during the first half of an NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta on April 6, 2026. (Colin Hubbard/AP)
On Tuesday we were able to get a prop win before halftime, as Karl-Anthony Towns had four assists before the second quarter ended. That cashed our ticket and gave us a quiet night. Game 5 was really about Jalen Brunson’s success. Towns was great, scoring 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, but Brunson was efficient, scoring 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting on the night.
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The Hawks finally returned to what had worked for them during the season with Jalen Johnson orchestrating the team. However, his offensive production only represented 18 points. That was still almost 20% of his total points, and if you add in his six assists, that puts him at over 25% of the team’s total offense. This was the first time he led the team in all three categories, and maybe that’s really a problem for his offense. Johnson was able to lead the team in all three categories in the regular season, but they may need to be more dynamic in the postseason.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart has the ball stolen by Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga in the fourth quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 23, 2026. (Brett Davis/Image Images)
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CJ McCollum had been excellent for the Hawks in their wins, but in Game 5 he was just 3-for-10 and scored just six points. With four turnovers, he nearly matched his scoring total with turnovers. As a team, they also need to be more active on the glass. They grabbed 27 rebounds, but Towns and OG Anunoby combined for 24. The Hawks lost the battle by 21 rebounds, which is hard to beat.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates his three-point shot against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of Game 6 of the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025. (Brad Penner/Image Images)
I’ll go back to the well with Towns getting 4+ assists at -132. He has been excellent at finding open teammates and has received at least four assists in four of the five games in the series. I also think this series is over. Before the series started I said the Hawks weren’t going to win. I admit they performed better than expected, but I think the Knicks close this out. Give them -1.5.
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