ATLANTA – CJ McCollum sank a clutch fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining, spoiling New York’s night once more and lifting the Atlanta Hawks to a 109-108 win, giving them a 2-1 edge over the Knicks in their first-round NBA playoff series Thursday night.
Following his standout performance in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, McCollum received the ball with Atlanta down by one point. He delivered again from 15 feet, ending the game with 23 points.
“I mean, I think this is exactly what I envisioned, you know, being able to play a home game in the playoffs, in a hostile environment,” exclaimed McCollum. “All of Atlanta is basically out. You know, we got [Atlanta] Falcons, we got rappers, we got entertainers. And I think for us as a kid, you always envision being able to play in big moments, being able to, you know, really test out your skill set. And you know, all of our guys work really hard. All of our guys take their jobs seriously, and our staff as well. And we earn the right to be in these moments. And I’m happy to see us delivering.”
Game 4 is Saturday at 6:00 PM Eastern at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Raptors break through with standout performances from Barnes and Barrett
Scottie Barnes recorded career-best playoff numbers with 33 points and 11 assists, while RJ Barrett also posted a playoff career-high 33 points, powering the Toronto Raptors to a 126-104 win over Cleveland on Thursday night and snapping a 12-game postseason losing streak against the Cavaliers. Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 22 points, Jamison Battle poured in all 14 of his points during the fourth quarter, and Brandon Ingram added 12, helping Toronto trim Cleveland’s lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Game 4 will take place Sunday afternoon in Toronto.
Minnesota Timberwolves increase defensive intensity in Game 3 win over Denver Nuggets
Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves showcased elite defensive pressure against a struggling Denver Nuggets squad, securing a 2-1 series lead with a commanding 113-96 victory Thursday night. McDaniels finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu delivered 25 points and nine assists off the bench, and Donte DiVincenzo added 15 points along with four steals for the red-hot Timberwolves.
Rudy Gobert built on his strong Game 2 showing against Nikola Jokic by limiting the three-time MVP again, holding him to a rough 7-for-26 shooting performance, while Minnesota set a postseason franchise record by allowing just 11 points in a decisive first quarter that set the tone early.
Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday night, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. Eastern in Minneapolis.
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