NBA Notes: Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Hawks, CJ McCollum, Raptors

Knicks

The Knicks did what good playoff teams are supposed to do. They handled business.

Jalen Brunson scored 28 points, Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 25, and New York pulled away late for a 113-102 home win over the Hawks in Game 1.

Brunson wasted no time. He hit his first six shots and dropped 19 points in the opening quarter, setting the tone early as the Knicks built a 30-24 lead.

The second half belonged to Towns. After a quiet start, he erupted for 19 points after halftime, helping New York create separation when it mattered most.

“We did a great job as a team just fighting and continuing to find ways to score and also impact winning,” Towns said, via the Associated Press.

OG Anunoby added 18 points. Josh Hart chipped in 11 points and 14 rebounds. Balance showed up across the board.

Game 2 is Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

“We know that they’re going to be ready for Game 2,” Brunson said. “So quick turnaround and extreme focus.”

Hawks

The Hawks had their moments. They just didn’t have enough of them.

CJ McCollum led the way with 26 points. Jalen Johnson added 23. The production was there from the top. The consistency wasn’t.

Atlanta started hot, matching New York shot for shot early. The pace slowed in the third quarter, and that’s where things shifted.

The offense stalled. The Knicks took control.

Frustration crept in. McCollum picked up a technical after a reviewed play. The Hawks resorted to intentional fouls in an attempt to disrupt the flow. It didn’t stick.

New York answered with a 10-0 run in the fourth that pushed the lead to 106-87. Atlanta responded with an 11-0 burst of its own. Too late.

“I like the way we came back at the end of the game,” coach Quin Snyder said. “They were resilient in that situation, it was just too little, too late.”

Game 2 now carries more weight than anyone in Atlanta would prefer.

Raptors

The Raptors learned a quick lesson in playoff basketball. Namely, it only takes a few minutes for things to get away.

Toronto dropped a 126-113 road decision to the Cavaliers in Game 1, undone by a decisive stretch bridging the second and third quarters.

RJ Barrett scored 24 points. Scottie Barnes added 21. Jamal Shead stepped in for the injured Immanuel Quickley and delivered 17, including five three-pointers. It wasn’t enough.

Cleveland ripped off a 27-9 run that turned a tight game into a comfortable margin. Max Strus led the charge, scoring 11 points during the burst and providing the kind of spark that swings playoff games.

Toronto never fully recovered.

“If we allow our opponent to score 126 points, it’s going to be tough to beat them,” coach Darko Rajakovic said. “We were way too stagnant tonight.”

Game 2 is Monday night in Cleveland. The Raptors will need more than scoring to even the series. Execution has to follow.