CJ McCollum’s late-game heroics led the Atlanta Hawks to a thrilling 107-106 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Monday night. McCollum scored six of his game-high 32 points in the final two minutes, leading the Hawks to a stunning comeback from an eight-point deficit with less than five minutes remaining.

Atlanta finished the game on a 15-6 run to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1. Game 3 will take place on Thursday night in Atlanta.

The Hawks trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter and found themselves down 100-92 with 5:26 left after Jalen Brunson’s floater for the Knicks. But the Hawks quickly surged, scoring on three consecutive possessions to narrow the deficit to 100-99. Jalen Johnson’s layup with 3:25 remaining set the stage for McCollum’s go-ahead layup with 2:08 left.

The Knicks had a chance to take control when OG Anunoby missed two free throws, but McCollum responded with a short jumper. Brunson tied the game with a clutch 3-pointer, making it 103-103. After a turnover by McCollum, the Hawks star sank a fadeaway jumper from the left baseline with 33.5 seconds left, giving Atlanta the lead for good.

In a frantic finish, Nickeil Alexander-Walker blocked Brunson’s shot and assisted Johnson on a dunk, putting the Hawks up 107-103 with 10.2 seconds remaining. The Knicks had one last chance after a timeout, but Brunson’s 3-pointer rattled in and out, and Mikal Bridges’ 12-foot attempt at the buzzer missed as the Hawks held on for the win.

Atlanta’s shooting in the fourth quarter was remarkable, hitting 72.2% (13-for-18) of their shots. In contrast, the Knicks struggled, shooting just 22.7% (5-for-22) in the final period.

Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points off the bench for the Hawks, while Jalen Johnson (17 points) and Onyeka Okongwu (15 points) contributed to the balanced offensive attack.

For the Knicks, Brunson led with 29 points, while Josh Hart recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points, Anunoby finished with 14 points, and Mitchell Robinson chipped in 13 points off the bench. Bridges scored 10 points in the loss.

The series is now tied at 1-1 as both teams prepare for a crucial Game 3 in Atlanta. -Field Level Media/Reuters