CJ McCollum delivered again in the closing moments Thursday night, knocking down a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining to push the Atlanta Hawks past the New York Knicks and into a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
McCollum’s late make proved decisive, swinging the series advantage to Atlanta as the matchup continued to tighten with each game. With the win, the Hawks moved one step closer to taking control of the opening-round set, while the Knicks were left facing a deficit after three games.
Series shifts after pivotal finish
The first-round series now stands 2-1 in favor of the Hawks, with McCollum’s clutch shot serving as the defining moment of Game 3. New York, which entered the night looking to gain separation in the series, instead heads into the next contest needing to respond to avoid falling further behind.