Knicks-Hawks Game 5 recap: Key player, stat, turning point, more
Knicks center Taj Gibson, left, and Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins (20) fight for a loose ball during the third quarter of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Credit: AP/Wendell Cruz
Final score: Hawks 103, Knicks 89
Key player
Clint Capela. While Trae Young may have been the key for the Hawks, Capela put a target on his back with his comments Tuesday and with the Knicks and the Garden crowd waiting for revenge, Capela backed up his words by dominating the paint with 14 points, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots.
Key statistic
Zero: Midway through the third quarter that’s the number of assists that Julius Randle had, to go along with seven turnovers. The Hawks stymied the Knicks main offensive cog all series long and on this night he tried to make the right decision at times, but just seemed lost as he repeatedly turned the ball over.
Turning point
The Knicks managed to hang in through a chippy, but sloppy first half. But in the third quarter, trailing by three early in the period, they saw the Hawks run off nine straight points and once a double-digit lead appeared the Knicks never challenged again.
Did you notice?
The Knicks had been able to rely on one player throughout this series — Derrick Rose. But looking like the Knicks veterans in their last playoff appearance, he appeared to run out of gas finally on this night.
Sidelight
The Hawks missed their first nine three-pointers and 10 of 11 in the first quarter — and still managed a 21-21 tie.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
