By Chris Robinson

Madison Square Garden was rocking from the opening tip, and the New York Knicks gave the home crowd exactly what they came for. New York took care of business with a home win in Game 1, weathering a late comeback attempt by the Hawks to secure a 113-102 victory and a 1-0 series lead. 

It wasn’t always pretty, but it didn’t need to be. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 53 points  to power New York through a spirited Atlanta challenge that kept things interesting deep into the fourth quarter.

Brunson was the engine from the very start. He had 12 early points as New York built an initial advantage, and by the time the third quarter was underway he had already reached 30 points  — the kind of playmaking performance that has made him one of the most dangerous players in the East come playoff time. He finished with 28 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.

Towns, meanwhile, controlled the glass all night and provided a physical presence inside that Atlanta struggled to answer. The big man’s 25-point, eight-rebound effort ensured that when Brunson needed a release valve, there was always one available.

Atlanta came into this series with genuine belief. Jalen Johnson was getting his first taste of the postseason as the main man for the Hawks , and he showed flashes of why the league has been buzzing about him all season. CJ McCollum was sharp in the first half with 17 points, helping Atlanta stay within striking distance at the break, 57-55 , and the Hawks refused to go away quietly. Atlanta shot 46 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in the first half , giving every indication they could make this a fight.

And they did — right up until New York’s depth wore them down. The Knicks led by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter  before the Hawks trimmed the deficit late, but the margin was always just a little too large to fully close. Atlanta’s youth and playoff inexperience showed in the moments that mattered most, when possessions tightened and every decision carried added weight.

For New York, this was a statement. The Knicks fell just short of the NBA Finals last season, and there’s a hunger in this group that was evident in how they locked in defensively in the second half, refusing to let Atlanta’s energy translate into real momentum. The Knicks have won five of their last six regular-season meetings against the Hawks , and Saturday’s performance only reinforced that sense of comfort and control over this opponent.

Game 2 is set for Monday night, still at MSG. 

Chris Robinson can be reached at crobinson@hustleboss.com