The New York Knicks did more than take control of their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. They showed the offensive wrinkle that could matter in the next round. Karl-Anthony Towns is becoming a second playmaking hub, Jalen Brunson still owns the late clock, and Game 5 gave New York a version of its offense that looks built for a bigger fight.
Karl-Anthony Towns changed the shape of the offense
The Knicks’ 126 to 97 Game 5 win over Atlanta had the feel of a blowout early, but the more important takeaway was how New York created its separation. Towns was not simply finishing possessions. He was organizing them.
Towns finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. That line matters because it reflects the version of Towns that gives the Knicks more room to breathe in playoff offense.
Atlanta tried to stay attached to New York’s shooters and take away the spray threes. Mike Brown said the Knicks responded by attacking the rim, spacing the floor, and finishing through the paint.
That adjustment produced 60 paint points. It also showed why Towns as a connector can change the entire feel of this team.
New York gave Brunson a cleaner path to close
Jalen Brunson still delivered the loudest number. He had 39 points, eight assists, and one turnover, while scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter.
That is the Brunson role New York can trust. He manipulates the late clock, gets to his spots, and gives the Knicks a steady answer when playoff possessions slow down.
The difference now is the setup before those closing moments. Towns’ passing gives Brunson more chances to work without carrying every possession from the top of the floor. The offense can move through Towns, force Atlanta to react, and still return to Brunson when the game demands a closer.
That balance is what makes the Knicks look more dangerous than they did after Games 2 and 3. Those one-point losses created panic because New York had not fully settled into its best counters. Game 5 looked like a team finding them at the right time.
The glass gave the Knicks control
The offense will get the attention, but the rebounding was just as important. New York won the glass 48 to 27, and Brown said Atlanta had only five offensive rebounds.
That matters against the Hawks because transition and second chances are how Atlanta creates chaos. The Knicks removed both. Brown said Atlanta had only four fast-break points, which turned the game into a controlled half-court fight.
OG Anunoby and Towns were the center of that. Brown called them monsters on the glass, and the numbers backed it up. Anunoby had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Towns added 14 boards of his own.
That type of rebounding discipline gives New York’s offense more chances to operate from structure. It also keeps Brunson from constantly having to rescue broken stretches.
OG Anunoby keeps making the whole thing work
Anunoby’s Game 5 line was not empty support scoring. His 17 points came on 5 for 8 shooting, and his 10 rebounds helped New York control the physical tone.
Brown praised Anunoby’s consistency and pointed to the parts of his impact that do not always show clearly in the box score. That is exactly why he matters in this version of the Knicks.
Anunoby can defend, rebound, cut, space, and finish without requiring the offense to bend around him. That keeps the Brunson-Towns structure clean.
Mikal Bridges had a quieter scoring night, but his drive-and-dunk fit the same theme. Atlanta stayed home on shooters, and New York attacked the space that opened. The Knicks did not chase the shot profile they wanted. They took the one Atlanta allowed and punished it.
The Celtics angle is impossible to ignore
The Knicks still have to finish the Hawks. Game 6 in Atlanta will bring more pressure, more pace, and a desperate opponent.
The bigger picture is already sitting there. If New York advances and Boston survives Philadelphia, the Knicks and Celtics meet again after New York beat Boston in six games in the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals.
That potential series is why Towns’ role matters so much. Boston can load up on Brunson with elite perimeter defenders. Boston can switch, pressure the ball, and force late-clock offense. A Knicks attack flowing through Towns gives New York another way to start possessions and punish overhelp.
The Celtics’ own volatility adds to the intrigue. Their offense can overwhelm teams from three, but cold shooting stretches have already created playoff drama. New York’s path against Boston would require physical defense, disciplined rebounding, and a half-court offense with more than one organizer.
Game 5 offered that picture. Towns gave the Knicks a hub. Brunson gave them the closer. Anunoby gave them the connective tissue. The result was a blowout that felt bigger than a first-round score.
New York still needs one more win over Atlanta before the city starts yelling about Boston. The dangerous part is that the Knicks may have found the exact offensive wrinkle that makes that conversation feel real.
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