New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks 128-125: McCullar’s turn

The New York Knicks outlasted the Atlanta Hawks to win, 128-125. The Knicks nearly blew a 16-point lead in the second half, but OG Anunoby made clutch plays to seal the win.

The Knicks controlled the entire first half. Atlanta didn’t have anyone big enough to stop Karl-Anthony Towns or Mitchell Robinson in the paint. New York’s second unit got a boost from Kevin McCullar Jr., who stepped up to fill the void left by Josh Hart’s ankle injury.

The Knicks pushed their lead to 16 points in the third quarter, but their defense began to let up. The Hawks came back and even took the lead in the fourth quarter, but Jalen Brunson struck late, and OG Anunoby made four consecutive free throws to close.

The Knicks came through in the clutch again, and another bench piece stepped up when opportunity came knocking. Let’s look back at another exciting Knicks’ victory.

Thirty-point games are becoming routine for Jalen Brunson, who made Dyson Daniels look pedestrian for most of the night. Brunson scored in every way, saving his best for a burst of seven consecutive points in the final three minutes of play. His final basket gave New York a lead, though he uncharacteristically turned the ball over after.

Despite not being quite as clutch as usual, Brunson gave the Knicks enough offense to close the game out and win.

The Hawks didn’t have anyone big enough to guard Karl-Anthony Towns. He bullied his way to the rim, where Atlanta’s choices were to let him score or foul. KAT grabbed rebounds just as easily, creating extra possessions for New York.

The only blemish on Towns’ night is that Onyeka Okongwu shot lights out. But KAT came up big again and again otherwise.

Kevin McCullar entered the first quarter and made a beeline for every loose ball. He earned extra time thanks to his effort on the boards and defending. As McCullar played more, he looked increasingly comfortable and started hitting shots. By the fourth quarter, McCullar had earned Mike Brown’s trust and continued to make game-influencing plays.

The sophomore even came in as a late defensive sub to help seal the win. Kevin McCullar Jr. got an opportunity and made a huge statement.

Just as KAT was too big for Atlanta, Mitchell Robinson presented the same problems. The big man grabbed nine boards in less than twenty minutes. He grabbed four offensive boards, including a monstrous putback in the first quarter.

Robinson’s defense has rounded into shape. His timing is better at the rim, and he’s switching onto wings without getting burned easily. Teams don’t have enough energy to keep both Mitch and Towns off the boards.

With Josh Hart out, the Knicks had a void in the playmaking department. But Mikal Bridges stepped into the role, making extra passes and helping Jalen Brunson get looks off the ball. Bridges kept up his typical, patient approach to getting looks of his own as well.

In fact, my typical complaint for Bridges applies here. I think he could have called his own number more often, because he was effective whenever attacking.

OG Anunoby’s defense shone throughout the night, with him making help-side plays and defending Atlanta’s wings better than anyone else. But his offense looked like a struggle for most of the early going. Anunoby got three-pointers to fall but not much else through three quarters,

But in the fourth quarter, Anunoby stepped up to make clutch plays. He grabbed an offensive board off a Brunson miss, earning the go-ahead free throws in the last 30 seconds. Then OG stole a pass and sank two more free throws to give New York its game-deciding lead.

It’s impossible to ignore Mike Brown’s positive impact on this team. Players who never got opportunities are stepping up and making a difference. They’re being aggressive and playing without fear of making mistakes.

Before Kevin McCullar Jr. had his moment tonight, Tyler Kolek seized his moment, and we’ve had pleasant surprises from Ariel Hukporti and Trey Jemison before. New York’s depth was a concern last season, but it has become a surprising strength.

The Knicks play the Pelicans in New Orleans next, which looks like a perfect chance to continue their streak. See you next time, Knicks’ fam!