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The unreal NBA record Knicks set with 51-point demolition of Hawks
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- The unreal NBA record Knicks set with 51-point demolition of Hawks
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The New York Knicks made a statement Thursday night, dismantling the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 to close out their first-round playoff series 4-2.
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After losing two games by a single point earlier in the series and falling back 2-1, New York responded emphatically, winning the final three games by 16, 29, and 51 points. Over that stretch, they outscored Atlanta by 96 points. With a +105 aggregate scoring advantage across six games, the Knicks set a new NBA record.
The 51-point margin stands as the largest playoff victory in franchise history and ranks as the third-biggest win ever in a closeout game. It also was just the eighth time an NBA playoff game has been decided by 50 or more points.
New York's 83-36 halftime lead established the largest halftime margin in NBA playoff history at 47 points. They later stretched the advantage to 101-40, a 61-point gap, the biggest lead ever recorded in a postseason game. By the end of three quarters, the lead stood at 53 points, another playoff record.
The Knicks also became the first road team in the play-by-play era to reach 100 points before the home team scored 50, a feat achieved in a game that was effectively over by halftime. A staggering 63-11 run across the first and second quarters, including a 31-4 close to the first and a 32-7 start to the second, blew the game wide open. At one point, New York led 60-19 and later 72-22.
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Individually, the Knicks had contributions across the board. OG Anunoby led the charge with 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 26 in the first half. Mikal Bridges scored 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a triple-double (12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) despite making just one field goal, becoming the first Knick with multiple triple-doubles in a single series. Jalen Brunson contributed 17 points and eight assists.
Defensively, New York forced 10 Hawks turnovers in the opening 13 minutes and finished with 16 steals and six blocks. All 15 Knicks players who saw the floor scored.
With the series decided, New York advances to the second round to face the winner of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers series.
Related: Danhausen puts Stephen A. Smith on blast with Anne Hathaway demand after Knicks' Hawks series win
Related: Knicks legend Walt Frazier urges Hawks to 'go get drunk' after Game 6 blowout
