Hawks-Knicks Game 5 takeaways: Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are a problem

In a pivotal Game 5, in front of an array of celebrities and former New York Knicks legends, the Knicks put their best forward to ensure that Madison Square Garden was rocking. In what felt like their most complete team effort, the Knicks had the right mindset to control this game from start to finish on both ends, winning 126-97.

The Hawks have been game, but this was a reminder that the two games the Knicks lost in this series were by a total of two points. The Knicks responded with two straight games of holding the Hawks to below 100 points. What was once a 2-1 deficit has become a 3-2 advantage. Let’s talk about.

One of the toughest parts about being a “lower seed” is the effort you have to put in to take away your opponent’s star players. You have to game-plan their individual tendencies, and build a scheme to keep them out of rhythm. The Hawks have had success moving pieces around the board, mixing defensive coverages, and working to force both of New York’s stars to work to find success. The problem is when they find it.

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In Game 5, they did.

Jalen Brunson had 39 points and 8 assists on 15-of-23 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns went 5 for 7, but ended with 16 pts, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Putting all the effort to disrupt a team’s stars only for them to put everything back on the table late in a series is deflating.

Towns continued to have an impact. The Knicks’ off-ball movement allowed him to be involved, but he had the right mindset in this one. Timely drives, timely pops, timely passes. The Hawks started the game moving Onyeka Okongwu onto OG Anunoby and Dyson Daniels onto KAT, who was able to mix in some drives from the elbow with some post-ups. The big key was the Hawks deciding they needed to double-team him, opening up another pathway for the Knicks to get the Hawks in rotation.

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Brunson can garner criticism for his playing style, but on nights like this you just have to grab your favorite beverage and compare it to the coldness of what Brunson is displaying. He’s exhibited a willingness to (try to) drive against Daniels, and you felt Brunson’s comfort with how…

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Author : Steve Jones

Publish date : 2026-04-29 03:38:00

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