Trae Young got the whole playoff experience Sunday at MSG. Young’s postseason debut began with Knicks fans giving him an earful, ruthlessly heckling the Hawks guard at every turn. But Young would get the last laugh, driving by Frank Ntilikina for the game-winning bucket with less than a second on the clock. I'll take ice veins for $600, Alex.
Young’s floater gave him 32 points on the night as the Hawks escaped with a 107-105 victory, claiming their first playoff win in over four years. New York squandered a gem from Alec Burks, who supplied a team-high 27 points off the bench. Burks netted 18 of his 27 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough as New York, making its first playoff appearance since 2013, came up just short. Sixth Man of the Year finalist Derrick Rose kept the Knicks breathing with a clutch jumper, sinking a 15-footer over John Collins with nine ticks remaining.
The Knicks had countless chances to close out Atlanta, but the Hawks, led by a late three-point barrage from Bogdan Bogdanovic (4-of-9 from downtown), refused to go quietly. Nerlens Noel, who has been a valuable defensive asset for the Knicks this year (he finished second to Rudy Gobert in blocks per game), twisted his ankle in the fourth quarter and his absence was felt down the stretch as Atlanta poured in 36 points in the final period. Tom Thibodeau’s decision to insert Ntilikina (he played all of one minute in the losing effort) for the final possession will earn criticism, and deservedly so, though Julius Randle’s Game 1 clunker (15 points on dreadful 6-of-23 shooting) sure didn’t help any.
The Knicks will look to redeem themselves when they return to the Garden for Game 2 Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram