NBA Matchups: April 23

NYK @ ATL | CLE @ TOR | DEN @ MIN

New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks

Team Totals: Knicks 109.5, Hawks 108.5

Injury Report: Jock Landale (O, ankle)

Hawks projected starters: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, C.J. McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu

Knicks projected starters: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns

Offensive Ranks: Hawks 15th (15th halfcourt), Knicks fourth (seventh halfcourt)

Defensive Ranks: Hawks eighth (eighth halfcourt), Knicks 10th (14th halfcourt)

Snyder quotes: Said the Knicks were dialed in for most of the game and the Hawks just raised their level late in the game, said Kuminga did a great job getting shots while guarding KAT, said NAW and Johnson recognized that McCollum had it going, said Kispert and Vincent gave them good minutes in Game 2, said McCollum leads with his play and with his communication.

Brown quotes: Said the non-KAT/Brunson lineup has been solid for them all year and that lineup failing isn’t why they lost the game, said they have to figure out how to put Brunson in a better spot defensively, said McCollum just hit some big buckets late and the NAW-McCollum PNR game was effective for them.

Stats and notes:

*It was an incredible fourth quarter from the Hawks to win that frame 28-15. Atlanta didn’t get any offensive rebounds in that quarter and made 1-of-3 from deep, so it was just excellent shotmaking. They went 9-of-9 at the rim, as they were cooking the NYK perimeter defenders in the halfcourt. The Hawks are not getting their running game going with 19.5 transition possessions per game versus the Knicks getting 19 as well (Hawks averaged 24.8, Knicks 20.3). Atlanta is getting good looks from deep with 23.0 C&S 3PAs per game compared to 19.5 from the Knicks. New York has been getting more shooting luck than the Hawks, and the Knicks were finally able to get their offensive rebounding going in Game 2. The big adjustment will be how the Knicks try to hide Jalen Brunson after the Hawks were spamming that action, especially late in the game.

 *Jalen Brunson had some massive usage again at 36.0% (34.1% in Game 1). Brunson’s handling role is the biggest of the postseason with 10.3 minutes of touch time, and he’s back to driving a good bit at 17.0 per game. The Hawks aren’t bringing too much pressure to him yet, and he’s never had a problem with Dyson Daniels guarding him. It’s a pretty straightforward spot for Brunson to put up a big game, and it’s extremely unlikely that Brunson gets cut for his poor defense.

*Karl-Anthony Towns saw his usage crater in Game 2 to just 17.9% (29.7% in G1). KAT wasn’t able to take it to Onyeka Okongwu or Jonathan Kuminga, and he’s only had four paint touches in this series so far. KAT’s 36.5 frontcourt touches are in line with what he averaged on the year despite more minutes in the postseason. The Hawks kept him off the line last game, and Atlanta does have some decent options on him. I like this spot a little more for Brunson, but maybe KAT plays a ton because a hack-a-Mitch strategy pushes up KAT’s minutes.

*Where the hell is Mikal Bridges? The Knicks should be using Mikal more to attack C.J. McCollum, but it’s still not a great spot for him because the Hawks take away what Mikal does. If you wanted to play Mikal in hopes of the Knicks funneling more plays to Bridges to attack McCollum, that makes a lot of sense.