Knicks set NBA playoff record with 47-point halftime lead over Hawks, advance to second round [VIDEO]

New York led 83-36 at the break behind 26 first-half points from OG Anunoby, surpassing the previous record of 41 points.

The New York Knicks delivered a historic first-half performance on April 30, 2026, in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. At halftime, the Knicks led 83-36. That is a 47-point advantage that set a new NBA playoff record for the largest halftime lead. The previous record of 41 points was shared by the 2025 Indiana Pacers and the 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks entered the game leading the series 3-2. This placed the Hawks in an elimination situation on their home floor at State Farm Arena. New York’s dominance began midway through the first quarter and never let up.

The final score was 140-89, giving the Knicks a 4-2 series victory and advancing them to the second round.

18-Minute Scoring Run Turned the Game Into a Blowout

The Hawks actually led briefly in the opening minutes, holding an 11-9 advantage. That was the last time the game was competitive. From that point forward, the Knicks outscored Atlanta by 53 points over an 18-minute stretch that bridged the end of the first quarter and most of the second. The scorelines told the story: 48-15, 60-19, 72-22, and finally 83-36 at the half.

The Knicks reached a 41-point lead by the 7:12 mark of the second quarter, the fastest any team has achieved a 40-point advantage in the play-by-play era. They extended the lead to 50 points by the 4:39 mark. The first quarter ended 40-15 after the Knicks outscored the Hawks 25-4 in the final segment of the period. The quarter featured a 19-0 run that broke the game open.

The second quarter continued the pattern. New York added 43 points while holding Atlanta to 21. The combination of efficient shooting, forced turnovers, and transition scoring made the Hawks’ defense helpless. Atlanta called multiple timeouts, but none slowed the Knicks’ momentum. Every adjustment failed.

Anunoby and Bridges Outscored the Entire Hawks Team

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 26 points in the first half on 10-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. He also grabbed 7 rebounds, dished 2 assists, and recorded 4 steals. His performance in the first half alone would have been a career night for most players. He scored from everywhere: catch-and-shoot threes, pull-up jumpers, and transition dunks.

Mikal Bridges added 16 points in the first half, knocking down shots from the perimeter and finishing at the rim. Together, Anunoby and Bridges scored 42 points in the first half, surpassing the Hawks’ team total of 36. This marked the first time in NBA playoff history that two teammates outscored an opponent in the first half of a game.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns facilitated the offense, assisting on three-pointers, dunks, and interior finishes. Brunson’s court vision and Towns’s ability to stretch the floor created open looks throughout the half. The Knicks assisted on multiple transition baskets and half-court sets. Brunson finished the half with 8 assists. Towns had 6.

For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided most of the limited scoring. Johnson had 10 points in the first half. Alexander-Walker added 8. Neither could sustain production against the Knicks’ defensive pressure. Jonathan Kuminga, who had been a bright spot earlier in the series, shot 1-of-8 in the first half and recorded a -40 plus-minus in 12 minutes.

Hawks’ Turnovers Fueled Knicks’ Fast Break

The Hawks committed 14 turnovers in the first half, including 8 in the first quarter and two more within the first minute of the second quarter. Those turnovers directly translated into fast-break points and easy scoring chances for New York. The Knicks scored 21 points off turnovers before halftime.

The Knicks shot over 60 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range during the half. Their ball movement was crisp, with 22 assists on their 30 made field goals. They shared the ball, found the open man, and never settled for bad shots. The result was one of the most efficient offensive halves in playoff history.

Atlanta was held to approximately 31 percent field-goal shooting and 22 percent from three. Their inability to generate consistent stops or secondary scoring left them trailing by a margin that grew with every missed shot and turnover. The Hawks’ defense, which had been solid at home earlier in the series, collapsed under the weight of New York’s execution.

The Knicks’ defensive pressure forced the Hawks into rushed decisions. New York’s perimeter defense cut off driving lanes, and their rotations closed out on shooters. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart picked up full-court pressure, disrupting Atlanta’s offensive sets before they could even begin.

Mitchell Robinson and Dyson Daniels Ejected Late in Second Quarter

A late altercation in the second quarter resulted in the ejection of Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels. The incident occurred when the lead had reached approximately 50 points. Daniels had scored 3 points on 1-of-4 shooting in 15 minutes before the ejection. Robinson had 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 10 minutes.

The altercation began after a hard foul near the basket. Words were exchanged, and both players were quickly separated. The officials reviewed the play and ejected both participants. No punches were thrown, and the situation did not escalate further.

Robinson had been effective in limited minutes, contributing on the glass and protecting the rim. The altercation did not affect the outcome of the game, as the Knicks’ lead was already insurmountable. Both players will be available for the start of the next round, as the ejections occurred in a game that did not require further discipline from the league.

The incident was the only moment of real tension in a half that was otherwise defined by one-sided basketball. The Hawks’ frustration was evident, but the Knicks maintained their composure and continued to execute. The ejections served as a punctuation mark on a half that had already been decided.

Knicks Advance to Second Round With 140-89 Victory

The second half was a formality. The Knicks cruised to a 140-89 victory, completing the 4-2 series win. The final score tied for the largest margin of victory in a playoff game this season. New York now awaits its second-round opponent.

OG Anunoby finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals. Mikal Bridges added 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Jalen Brunson recorded 18 points and 11 assists in just 28 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Mitchell Robinson added 8 points and 9 rebounds before his ejection.

The Hawks’ season ended with the worst playoff loss in franchise history. Now, the focus shifts to the offseason for Atlanta and the second round for New York.

The Knicks have now won five straight playoff games dating back to the end of the first round. They will host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers’ first round series.

Conclusion

The Knicks led by 47 points at halftime. They broke a playoff record that had stood for nearly a decade. OG Anunoby scored 26 in the first half. He and Bridges outscored the Hawks by themselves. The final was 140-89. The series is over. New York moves on. Atlanta goes home. The record belongs to the Knicks. The next round awaits.

The margin will not be this large again. It does not need to be. One win is enough. The Knicks have four. They want more. The Hawks have an offseason to figure out what went wrong. The Knicks have a date with the conference semifinals.

The record will stand until someone breaks it.

For now, it is theirs.

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