Jalen Brunson delivered a masterclass in first-half scoring Saturday, racking up 22 of his game-high 28 points before the break as the New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
The Knicks guard set the tone early at Madison Square Garden, attacking relentlessly and keeping Atlanta's defense off balance through the opening two quarters. By the time halftime arrived, Brunson had already done most of his damage, giving New York a cushion it would never fully relinquish.
The Hawks battled back at times in the second half but could not overcome Brunson's early barrage, according to ESPN. New York's supporting cast helped close the door, keeping the lead comfortable enough to avoid any serious late-game drama.
Atlanta now faces the unenviable task of regrouping before Game 2, needing to find answers for a Brunson who looked every bit the franchise cornerstone the Knicks envisioned when they built their roster around him. For New York, the victory provides the ideal start to a postseason campaign fueled by playoff-tested talent and a raucous home crowd hungry for a deep run.
