NBA playoff winners and losers: CJ McCollum takes over at MSG, Rudy Gobert puts on clinic vs. Nikola Jokić The Knicks blew a big lead on Monday night, the Cavs handled their business vs. the Raptors and the Timberwolves got a huge win in Denver

NBA playoff winners and losers: CJ McCollum takes over at MSG, Rudy Gobert puts on clinic vs. Nikola Jokić.

Mike Brown fails first major test as Knicks coach with Game 2 collapse vs. Hawks The Knicks blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter on Monday night, and their head coach made a few puzzling choices

Mike Brown fails first major test as Knicks coach with Game 2 collapse vs. Hawks.

Timberwolves rally past Nuggets to win Game 2, even series Anthony Edwards scored 30 points, Julius Randle added 24 and the Timberwolves rallied past the Nuggets 119-114 on Monday night to tie their Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece.

Wolves rally from 19 down to win wild Game 2.

Mike Brown stands by Knicks sub decision — but it’s one he may be forced to rethink Brown prefers to sit both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns for the starts of the second and fourth quarters rather than stagger them and have one on the court.

Mike Brown stands by Knicks sub decision — but it’s one he may be forced to rethink.

Hawks’ CJ McCollum revelling in the boos as Garden’s latest villian Monday night, the veteran guard heard plenty of them as he shot the Hawks past the Knicks 107-106 at the Garden to even this best-of-seven opening-round series at one game apiece.

Hawks’ CJ McCollum revelling in the boos as Garden’s latest villian.

Knicks’ inexplicable Game 2 meltdown falls on three people — and not Mikal Bridges The problem, as it unfolded in front of a stunned Garden crowd, is that it should’ve never come down to that Bridges shot at the buzzer.

Knicks’ inexplicable Game 2 meltdown falls on three people — and not Mikal Bridges.

Karl-Anthony Towns turned into nonfacter when Knicks needed him most They weren’t really slowing him down the first three quarters Monday, either.

Karl-Anthony Towns turned into nonfacter when Knicks needed him most.

Mike Brown’s odd decision helped spark phantom Knicks timeout drama after broadcast error It was a timeout that had Knicks fans furious that they didn’t use in the closing seconds of the game. 

Mike Brown’s odd decision helped spark phantom Knicks timeout drama after broadcast error.

Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson makes impact on both ends as Hawks don’t employ fouling tactics There were no instances of hack-a-Robinson on Monday night. The Knicks center’s presence was felt without that ploy to get him out of the game in the 107-106 loss to the Hawks in Game 2. Mitchell R…

Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson makes impact on both ends as Hawks don’t employ fouling tactics.

Heroes, zeros from Knicks’ Game 2 loss to Hawks: Mikal Bridges’ passive last shot ends tough night Heroes and zeros from the Knicks’ 107-106 Game 2 loss to the Hawks on Monday night.

Heroes, zeros from Knicks’ Game 2 loss to Hawks: Mikal Bridges’ passive last shot ends tough night.

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets (Apr 20, 2026) Live Score - ESPN Live coverage of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets NBA game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats.

Follow live: Nuggets, Timberwolves face off in Game 2.

Knicks’ Jose Alvarado proved ready when called on despite rotation fallout The New York City native provided a spark off the bench, although it wasn’t enough, as the Knicks lost home-court advantage in this first-round series. They dropped Game 2, 107-106, blowing a 12-po…

Knicks’ Jose Alvarado proved ready when called on despite rotation fallout.

Knicks’ Game 2 report card: Doomed by a quiet second half Report card from the Knicks’ 107-106 Game 2 loss to the Hawks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Knicks’ Game 2 report card: Doomed by a quiet second half.

Gag City: Knicks’ season-altering choke ends chance of easy series with Hawks The Knicks led by 12 points after three quarters. They still led by eight with 5 ½ minutes to go. The Garden was having a lot of fun with new villain CJ McCollum, and the Knicks were ready to go to…

Gag City: Knicks’ season-altering choke ends chance of easy series with Hawks.

CJ McCollum leads late rally as Hawks stun Knicks to tie series CJ McCollum scored 32 points, and the Hawks rallied to stun the Knicks 107-106 on Monday night, tying their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.

McCollum, Hawks stun Knicks late to even series.

Knicks collapse in stunning Game 2 loss to let Hawks even series McCollum hit the go-ahead shot with 33.5 seconds left in the game to put the Hawks ahead by two in what would become an eventual 107-106 loss.

Knicks collapse in stunning Game 2 loss to let Hawks even series.

Timothee Chalamet, Suni Lee take in Knicks-Hawks Game 2 with celebs, franchise icons out in full force Celebrity row was a who’s who for Game 2 of the Knicks’ first-round NBA playoff series with the Hawks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. 

Timothee Chalamet, Suni Lee take in Knicks-Hawks Game 2 with celebs, franchise icons out in full force.

Mitchell, Harden help Cavaliers roll past Raptors for 2-0 lead Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, James Harden added 28 and the Cavaliers never trailed against the Raptors on Monday night.

Mitchell, Harden help Cavs cruise to 2-0 lead.

Hawks vs. Knicks (Apr 20, 2026) Live Score - ESPN Live coverage of the Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks NBA game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats.

Follow live: Knicks, Hawks face off after New York takes 1-0 series lead.

Wolves' Finch irked by calls: 'Maybe we gotta start flopping' Wolves coach Chris Finch reiterated his frustration with Jamal Murray's 16 free throws in Game 1, arguing that his plays don't get calls because they don't flop.

Frustrated Finch: 'Maybe we gotta start flopping'

2026 NBA Playoffs Round 1: Knicks vs. Hawks Game 2 – “Hanging With” Doesn’t Mean BEATING. knickerblogger.net

Raptors' Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) out for Game 2 vs. Cavs Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley will miss Game 2 of Toronto's first-round playoff series against the Cavs because of a right hamstring strain.

Raptors again rule out Quickley for Game 2.

Raptors vs. Cavaliers (Apr 20, 2026) Live Score - ESPN Live coverage of the Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats.

Follow live: Cavaliers host Raptors for Game 2 of the first round.

Mike Brown’s vibes belie his biggest remaining Knicks goal There was nothing to suggest he was stressed or concerned about the first-round series against the Hawks, or about those Finals-or-bust expectations hovering over the playoffs.

Mike Brown’s vibes belie his biggest remaining Knicks goal.

Nets extend Jordi Fernandez, staff with multi-year contracts as rebuild mission continues The Nets signed head coach Jordi Fernandez and his entire coaching staff to multi-year contract extensions on Monday.

Nets extend Jordi Fernandez, staff with multi-year contracts as rebuild mission continues.

NBA breaks ties for 2026 draft position; Jazz keep protected pick The NBA conducted its tiebreaking process for the league's 2026 draft, setting the order from 15 to 30 and breaking a pair of ties among teams nestled inside the lottery.

NBA breaks draft ties; Jazz keep protected pick.

Spurs' Victor Wembanyama captures first career DPOY At 22 years old, Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Spurs' Wembanyama captures first career DPOY.

Lakers lose tiebreaker to Knicks, will have 25th pick in NBA draft The Lakers will have the 25th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, the league announced on Monday after ties among teams with identical regular-season records were broken through random drawings to determin…

Lakers lose tiebreaker to Knicks, will have 25th pick in NBA draft.

2026 NBA draft order: Pre-lottery picks for first, second rounds Where does the NBA draft order stand ahead of next month's lottery? We have you covered.

2026 NBA draft order: Where all 60 picks stand ahead of the lottery.

Rockets' Kevin Durant game-time decision for Game 2 Rockets star Kevin Durant went through around half of Houston's practice on Monday and will be a game-time decision for Game 2 on Tuesday.

Durant game-time decision for Game 2 vs. Lakers.