MSG Roars, but Knicks Still Lose

 HAWKS 107 - KNICKS 105 

For the first time in about 15 months Madison Square Garden was at full throttle with over 15,000 fans sitting shoulder to shoulder -- even with the pandemic far from over, and less than 45 percent of the state of New York fully vaccinated, mind you -- they sat there hoping that their Knicks would bring the glory days back again to open the 2021 postseason. 

Instead Atlanta's Trea Young had other ideas. With 0.9 left in regulation, Young hit a running jumper to sink the Knicks 107-105, silence the crowd and send the Knicks home for the night down 1-0. 

Young was deadly on Sunday night, netting 32 points, 10 assists and 7 boards. He also accounted for 13 of Atlanta's 36 fourth quarter points, and nailed off his free throws. In fact he was 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. 

The loss is especially disappointing for the Knicks who came back to take a 73-71 lead at the end of the third quarter. But the Knicks never enjoyed a lead larger than 7 points when Taj Gibson sank a free throw to make it 73-66 with 1:12 to go in the third. The Hawks always had an answer for every Knicks shot. 

After Alec Burks hit three consecutive free throws to give the Knicks an 82-76 lead, Atlanta's Bogdan Bogdanovic nailed a three-pointer to cut the Knicks lead to three. Lou  Williams would take over hitting a couple of jump shots that tightened the Knicks lead down to one point, 84-83, before Burks answered with a couple of huge jump shots to keep New York in front. 

 

With 4:13 to go the Hawks took control when Clint Capela's layup that cut the deficit to 93-91, was quickly followed by a three-pointer by Bogdanovic to swing Atlanta in front 94-93. De'Andre Hunter's 26-foot three would give the Hawks their largest lead of the half at 97-93. 

After RJ Barrett hit a douce for New York, Julius Randle nailed a three-pointed from down town to give the Knicks the lead back at 98-97. 

The seasaw action would continue the rest of the way with Derrick Rose's 15 foot jumper tying it for the Knicks at 105 with 10.2 to play before Young won it for the Hawks just seconds later. 

Game two at the Garden is Tuesday, but Atlanta already has stolen home court advantage in this series.