NBA playoff tracker: Hawks hammer Knicks with 17-point win, take 3-1 series lead
Welcome to the Yahoo Sports NBA playoff tracker, your daily one-stop shop for all the latest game results from each NBA playoff series. Here's a look at Sunday's games.
Thanks to a dominant win over the New York Knicks on Sunday, the Atlanta Hawks are just one game away from advancing to Round 2.
The Hawks hammered the Knicks in Game 4, winning 113-96 thanks to a strong second half — especially the third quarter. The Hawks led 53-49 at halftime, but when they came back from the locker room they began to run away with it. They started the third quarter with a 15-5 run and never looked back. At one point they led the Knicks by 26, threatening to turn the game into a runaway disaster.
Though he was better than he'd been in Games 1, 2, and 3, Julius Randle continued to be limited by the Hawks, who continued to force him into uncomfortable positions. He shot just 7-19, committed five turnovers, and heard "overrated" chants from the crowd throughout the game. He seemed pretty frustrated by the end of it.
Julius Randle gets a Flagrant 1 on this one for sending his forearm into Danilo Gallinari's chest. Knicks teammates don't seem to mind after the play though. Might've been some retribution on Gallinari for him getting Reggie Bullock a few minutes earlier. pic.twitter.com/IUU30MoIIm
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 30, 2021
No one could stop Trae Young from being Trae Young. He continued to own the Knicks, scoring 27 points with 9 assists, both team highs.
🎯 TRAE 🎯pic.twitter.com/DNvqFmHAph
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 30, 2021
It's chilly in State Farm Arena 🥶pic.twitter.com/6heoeEeoyM
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 30, 2021
Hawks say Trae Young is the first player in Atlanta history to score 20-or-more points in each of his first four postseason games. Lou Hudson achieved it in his first five games for St. Louis in 1967. pic.twitter.com/spzukSuJMz
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 30, 2021
It was more than just Young, though. The whole team contributed, and they were relentless. Six players finished the game with double-digit points.
9 points in 60 seconds. pic.twitter.com/bacEfLCDqa
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 30, 2021
🚨 LET'S GOOOOOOO 🚨 pic.twitter.com/39AM3nIkuO
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 30, 2021
We got shooters everywhere. pic.twitter.com/d26uvvH9np
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 30, 2021
The Knicks just don't have an answer for the Hawks when they have the ball. If they hope to find one, they'll have to do it fast. It's win or go home for the Knicks on Wednesday. If they want to advance, they'll have to do something no Knicks team has ever done in the history of the franchise: come back from a 3-1 playoff deficit.
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