The Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks on Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, with both teams having won one game apiece.
Atlanta's Game 2 victory was as close as it gets. CJ McCollum poured in 32 points to edge the Knicks 107-106 on Tuesday. Jalen Brunson led New York with 29. The Hawks enter as one-and-a-half-point favorites at home, with an over/under set at 216.5.
Atlanta's offense has been the story of the series. The Hawks average 118.5 points per game, 8.4 more than the Knicks' season average allowed of 110.1. Jalen Johnson has been Atlanta's most complete player, averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also stepped up recently, averaging 20.2 points over the last ten games.
For New York, Brunson remains the offensive anchor at 26 points and 6.8 assists per game. Karl-Anthony Towns leads the team with 11.9 rebounds per game, helping the Knicks rank fourth in the Eastern Conference in total rebounds at 45.6 per night.
Both teams went 6-4 over their final ten regular season games. Atlanta shot 48.1 percent from the field during that run while holding opponents to 111.7 points. New York shot 48.8 percent and held opponents to just 106.2 points per game. The Hawks will be without center Jock Landale, who is out with an ankle injury. The Knicks have no injuries listed.
