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Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during an NBA game.

The Atlanta Hawks had a futile performance in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks on Thursday. The Hawks were eliminated after an all-time embarrassing performance, losing by 51 points and being down by as many as 61 points.

Late in the second quarter, Dyson Daniels got tangled with big man Mitchell Robinson. Elbows were thrown and frustrations boiled over as Daniels and Robinson almost got into a brawl.

Coaches, players and officials did their best to contain the situation, with both players getting ejected.

Dyson Daniels Explains What Led to Mitchell Robinson Scuffle

GettyDyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks is held back after a fight during the first half of a game against the New York Knicks in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Speaking to reporters on Friday’s exit interviews, Daniels was asked about what happened between him and Robinson. The Australian guard explained that Robinson has been throwing elbows all series long, so it was his turn go give one back.

However, Daniels did acknowledge that things got out of hand, and he should have never started it to begin with.

“Yeah, I mean, there was just, you know, over the series, there was a few elbows thrown, and he kind of does this thing on the free throws where he like puts his elbows really high,” Daniels said, via Sports Illustrated. “He got me with like two or three of them throughout the series, and on the free throws so I gave him one back, and then yeah, he didn’t like it. I didn’t like it, so it kind of just boiled over a little bit yeah.

He added, “I thought it was just gonna be a tech, and we move on but probably went for a little too long so they just threw us out. Plus we got 50 as well, which probably, you know, went into it, so yeah, it was a silly play. I shouldn’t have done it, but also just trying to stick up for myself as well.”

Robinson responded to the incident in a different way, talking a bit of trash on social media and posting something that got into bigger trouble with the NBA.

Mitchell Robinson and Daniel Dyson Punished

GettyMitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks and Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks fight during the second quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The NBA announced on Friday that they have fined Mitchell Robinson and Dyson Daniels for their roles in the scuffle during Thursday’s Game 6. Robinson received a $50,000 fine, while Daniels was slapped with a $25,000 punishment.

For those wondering why both players received a different monetary fine, Robinson’s social media post was deemed “inappropriate,” so he was also punished for it.

“Both players escalated the altercation with Robinson continuing to aggressively pursue Daniels after the players had been separated,” the statement read. “The altercation resulted in both players being assessed technical fouls and ejected. The amount of Robinson’s fine takes into account his inappropriate post on social media in reference to the incident postgame.”

Luckily for the Knicks, Robinson wasn’t suspended for at least one game. They are set to face either the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.