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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second half of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks won 126-97.

The New York Knicks won the crucial Game 5 in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, as they are now just one win away from advancing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

After an up-and-down start to the series, the Knicks have won two games in a row thanks to Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the rest of the rotation. Now, they are a Game 6 victory away from moving on to the second round.

While New York hasn’t clinched the series just yet, history is on its side. After winning the massive Game 5, recent NBA memory shows that they now have a distinct advantage over Atlanta.

Knicks Get Great News, Have History On Their Side After Game 5 Win Vs Hawks

According to Underdog NBA, and backed up by multiple other reports, teams like the Knicks that win a Game 5 when a playoff series is tied 2-2, end up advancing at a staggering 84% of the time.

Throughout NBA history, Game 5 tends to be a big decider, and after the Knicks took that contest in the first round against the Hawks, they should feel good for the rest of the series.

Additionally, New York went down 2-1 in the series against Atlanta, but after a strong Towns performance in Game 4 and Brunson’s 39-point bomb in Game 5, they are now in front.

What could be even more hopeful news for the Knicks is that in their two losses so far to Atlanta, they only fell by one point on each occasion. That was due in part to some C.J. McCollum heroics, but head coach Mike Brown put a stop to the 34-year-old catching fire on Tuesday night.

Now, the Knicks are in the driver’s seat in the first round. They’ve found a bit of a groove, and while the series is far from decided, they have the advantage going into Game 5, only needing one more victory to move on in the playoffs.

Knicks vs Hawks Game 5 Recap

New York led most of the way against the Hawks to take the 3-2 series lead.

Brunson had a game-high 39, while Towns and OG Anunoby combined for 33 points on 10/13 shooting. As a team, the Knicks shot 57% from the field and 42% from three, routing Atlanta 126-97 at Madison Square Garden.

“The ball went in, but just happy we were able to keep the lead,” Brunson said postgame, per ESPN. “They’re a team that’s capable of going on runs, as you know, from early in the series. But I liked the way we played in the fourth and kept the lead.”

Despite the major ups and downs through the season, Brown said that the Knicks’ previous adversity played a part in their strong response in Game 5.

“You’ve got to go through some adversity through the course of the year and see what you’re made of, see how you’ll respond,” Brown said. “The guys have been through a lot so far this year and continue to go through it. They’ve been through it as a group. There’s nothing that will deter this group, this veteran group.”

Now, New York is up 3-2, and one win away from moving on to the second round, where they’ll either play the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers.

Game 6 of the Knicks-Hawks series is on Thursday, April 30, at 7 pm EST and live on ESPN.