Mike Brown: "We just have to lock in and do better."

Said it's tough to win a playoff game when you miss 10 free throws and have 14 turnovers for 18 points.

Wow. Just a dreadful 4Q from the Knicks, who were the best fourth-quarter team, maybe, ever (according to net rating) during the season.

Atlanta will do its job, steal a game at MSG.

This loss is on everyone. Missed free throws, missed open shots and weird lineups/rotations.

Mike Brown has been great this year. If the Knicks lose this, this game is on him with the 12-ish total minutes of neither Brunson nor KAT on the floor.

Knicks' lead is down to 1 with 3:22 left.

You guessed it: More minutes without Brunson AND KAT and the Hawks are only down six.

Both guys have four fouls but, yeah

END OF 3Q: Knicks 91, Hawks 79.

Weirdly, it looks like Clarkson is getting pushed out of the rotation in favor of Jose. Clarkson has been really good.

He usually starts the fourth quarter and isn't.

Mitchell Robinson just tied his playoff career high (13 points) with that dunk.

Finally, the crowd has shifted to "F--- you, CJ"

Alvarado comes in, two assists to KAT right away.

Brunson just picked up his fourth foul with 4:40 left in the 3Q. He's staying in.

Knicks lead by 11.

Knicks take a 7-point lead into the half despite losing the 3-point battle by 9 points, which tells you all you need about the talent difference between the two teams.

Clean up the turnovers and make free throws in the second half and they should win comfortably.

Knicks can't lose the 3-point battle AND have these bad of turnovers AND not make their free throws.

Need two of those to turn in their favor and they should win comfortable.

Instead they only lead by 3.

Hawks lead after another McBride turnover leading to a Kuminga dunk.

Here comes Alvarado.

One-point game. Knicks led by 11 at one point. Second unit has turnovers, can't create separation. Defense hasn't been terrible but been a lot of transition because of the turnovers.

Not sure how much longer I'd go with no KAT or Brunson if I were Mike Brown. The bench-and-OG minutes haven't been great so far.

Only a 3-point game.

Shamet slid on a drive and came down hard on his back and head. He's staying in but is in pain. It led to a NAW 3.

Corey Kispert is checking in for the first time this series. Was waiting for him or Buddy Hield.

END OF 1Q: Knicks 32, Hawks 23. New York's defense has been awesome and Atlanta has just not had much half-court success when McCollum isn't on the floor.

Great quarter from Hart, Robinson and Bridges.

Also, the first quarter took 45 minutes.

Mitch will likely get a technical there as we have our first scuffle of the series.

Illegal screen on Mitch and then he walked over Daniels, who then got in his face. Then Mitch pushed Daniels.

OG just dunked all over Tony Bradley. Sheesh

Daniels hit Brunson in the face with an elbow. He tripped over Mitch trying to get around the screen. Definitely a foul but I don't think it should be a flagrant because he got tangled with Mitch

Jalen Johnson just looks overwhelmed in every way. The playmaking isn't even there.

Knicks lead 15-9 early. Great two-way game by Josh Hart so far. He's got 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in five minutes of action.

Great start by New York's defense, specifically Josh Hart.

OG Anunoby is good to go tonight.

Last night, Jalen Brunson had a 1Q performance for the ages.

Coincidentally, it was on the 4-year anniversary of the night he introduced himself to the NBA world.

“It was his coming-out party,” then-opp Jordan Clarkson told me.

Brunson hasn’t left:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Last night, Jalen Brunson had a 1Q performance for the ages.

Coincidentally, it was on the 4-year anniversary of the night he introduced himself to the NBA world.

“It was his coming-out party,” then-opp Jordan Clarkson told me.

Brunson hasn’t left:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Mike Brown said, by their charting, ATL had 18 fast-break points in the first half. Said he thought it was better until late in game.

Also said the Hawks' small-small pick-and-roll gave them issues.

Knicks take Game 1 by 11 points, which is, ironically, the same they beat Detroit by in Game 1 last year.

Brunson set the tone in the 1Q, OG was steady throughout and KAT had some big plays late.

KAT sure did change the narrative of his game tonight over these last eight minutes.

Has made some huge defensive plays and knocked down shots inside and out after a meh first 2.5 quarters.

Knicks are over the limit with 7:45 left in the game.

Shamet and McBride are a combined 1 for 9 from the floor.