The New York Knicks made a huge comeback on Saturday night. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114–98 and tied the first-round playoff series at 2-2.
After losing two games in a row, New York was focused, physical, and determined when they came out of the locker room. Here are three things we discovered after Game 4.
The Knicks Always Need a Wakeup Call
This team seems to play its best basketball when its back is against the wall. After dropping Games 2 and 3, including a gut-wrenching 109–108 loss where they blew a late lead, the Knicks came into Atlanta with something to prove. And they did exactly that.
From the jump ball at tip-off, New York set the tone. They built leads in every quarter, ran sharp offensive sets, and defended with urgency. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with a postseason triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), and OG Anunoby exploded for 22 points.
The Knicks‘ real character – tough, deep, and disciplined – was revealed the moment they felt the pressure. This is quite reassuring, but at the same time, it is slightly worrying as we are moving towards a winner-takes-all series.
Mikal Bridges Needs to Be Under 20 Minutes
We all know that Mikal Bridges is not producing right now when the playoffs come to the biggest moments. After a scoreless performance, coupled with a shocking minus-26, the Knicks understandably reduced his time on the floor in Game 4.
Though he scored a couple of times in the first half, his defensive mistakes and offensive struggles make him a risk in crunch time.
Mike Brown must accept the truth. In a trade, Bridges was the reason the Knicks had to give away five first-round picks; however, in the playoffs, performance counts, not loyalty.
Limiting his playing time to less than 20 minutes enables the Knicks to have their most effective and reliable players on the floor in the final minutes, while also getting some benefits from his length and defense in controlled doses.
KAT Needs to Be the Main Guy, Not Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson is the heart of this team, but this game tells a clear story: he turned the ball over six times. Meanwhile, KAT was an absolute monster. He scored, rebounded, and orchestrated the offense all night long.
When the Knicks run plays through Towns in the post and mid-range, they look like a completely different team. The Knicks are at their best when KAT is dominating, and Game 4 proved it again.
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