Jalen Brunson hit the game-winning shot with 11 seconds left in overtime for the host New York Knicks, who overcame a five-point deficit in the extra session to edge the Atlanta Hawks 149-148 in the highest-scoring game of the season.
The Knicks recovered from blowing an 18-point lead in the second quarter and squandered a six-point edge in the final seconds of regulation. They have won two straight and four of their last five.
Onyeka Okongwu drained two free throws with 24 seconds left to give the Hawks a one-point lead, before Brunson dribbled up the court and sank a fallaway from the foul line over Dyson Daniels.
Following a timeout by Atlanta, Trae Young tried to drive the baseline, but his floater over Precious Achiuwa glanced off the side of the backboard. Okongwu collected the rebound and dished to a wide-open Georges Niang, who missed a 3-pointer from in front of the Knicks’ bench as time expired.
Karl-Anthony Towns joined some select company by posting 44 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who enter the All-Star break with nine wins in their last 11 games. Towns, who scored 40 points in Tuesday’s 128-115 win over the Indiana Pacers, is the fifth player in franchise history to score 40 points in consecutive games.
Brunson had 36 points and eight assists, and Josh Hart added 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Achiuwa scored 26 points, while Mikal Bridges finished with 11 points and Cameron Payne added 10 points off the bench.
Young had 38 points and 19 assists for the Hawks, who forced overtime when Niang sank a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left and the duo of Young and Daniels combined to go 3-of-4 from the line in the last eight seconds, helped by a turnover by Towns.
Okongwu had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Caris LeVert notched 20 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta, which didn’t lead until overtime. Daniels scored 23 points and Niang had 21 points, while Zaccharie Risacher finished with 16.
–Field Level Media
