The New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference opening round on May 1, 2026. The Knicks led by as many as 61 points, setting a record for the largest lead in a playoff game.
This victory marks the most points scored by the Knicks in franchise playoff history. The team’s margin of victory of 51 points is also notable, ranking as the sixth-largest in NBA playoff history.
During the game, OG Anunoby excelled, scoring 29 points in just 27 minutes. The Knicks’ halftime lead of 47 points broke the record for the largest halftime margin in a playoff game.
The Hawks had recently undergone a midseason roster overhaul and secured their first outright playoff berth since 2021. They finished the regular season with 46 wins.
The Knicks will advance to face either the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers in the next round. This significant win reflects their strong performance throughout the season.
Reactions:
- Quin Snyder, head coach of the Hawks, stated, “Give credit to the Knicks… their physicality — they made it hard for us.”
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker expressed frustration: “Disgusting. The way we lost was… at no point this season were we that bad.”
- Jalen Johnson noted, “This is a big learning experience… I’m going to take a lot from this.”