The momentum that took the Hawks into the playoffs wasn’t there for them tonight.
See more about the game on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.
The Atlanta Hawks lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference playoff series against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden April 18.
The final was Hawks 102 - Knicks 113.
Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 of his 25 in the second half.
OG Anunoby added 19 points and Josh Hart had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks in their first postseason game under Mike Brown.
CJ McCollum had 26 points and Jalen Johnson added 23 for the Hawks, who went 20-6 after the All-Star break to earn the No. 6 seed.
Brunson, who already owns the Knicks’ record with eight 40-point games in the postseason, was almost halfway to another in the first quarter.
Brunson didn’t do as much in the second half, but Towns took over after he was just 1 for 6 for six points at the break.
The teams got off to sizzling starts, with the Knicks opening 8 for 9 and Atlanta starting 6 for 7, before play eventually slowed to a crawl in the third quarter.
Game 2 will be in New York on Monday before the series shifts to Atlanta.
The Hawks are holding a Game 2 watch party Monday night.
Doors to State Farm Arena will open at 7 p.m. an hour before Game 2 tips off at 8 p.m. You can buy tickets here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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