McCollum’s Late Heroics Lift Hawks, Raptors and Timberwolves Shine in Playoffs

A clutch basket from CJ McCollum in the closing seconds powered the Atlanta Hawks to a dramatic 109-108 win over the New York Knicks, giving them a 2-1 lead in their NBA Playoffs 2026 first-round series on Thursday.

McCollum’s go-ahead shot with just 12.5 seconds remaining capped another tense finish in Atlanta, marking the Hawks’ second consecutive one-point victory. Despite having time to respond, the Knicks failed to attempt a final shot as defensive pressure forced Jalen Brunson into a costly turnover, with Jonathan Kuminga sealing the game with a crucial steal.

“Picture perfect,” McCollum said after the game. “When it was time to get a stop our guys dug deep and they did what it takes to win.”

Atlanta’s balanced performance saw Jalen Johnson lead with 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while McCollum added 23 and Kuminga chipped in 21 off the bench. The Hawks had earlier built an 18-point lead, but the Knicks rallied late, briefly going ahead after Brunson’s three-point play in the final minute.

For New York, OG Anunoby scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Brunson contributed 26 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added a strong double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors bounced back in their series with a commanding 126-104 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett each scored 33 points, with Barnes also contributing 11 assists. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles added 22 points off the bench as Toronto dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring Cleveland 43-23 to cut the series deficit to 2-1.

“We knew we needed one,” Barnes said, as the Raptors avoided falling into a 0-3 hole.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves delivered a commanding 113-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets to take a 2-1 series lead. Rudy Gobert anchored a dominant defensive effort that kept Nikola Jokic under pressure throughout the game.

Gobert’s presence helped limit Jokic to inefficient shooting, despite the Serbian star finishing with 27 points and 15 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu led Minnesota’s scoring with 25 points off the bench, while Jaden McDaniels added 20 points and 10 rebounds.

With momentum shifting across both conferences, the playoff battles are intensifying as teams gear up for crucial game fours in their respective series.