Heroes and zeros from the Knicks 126-97 Game 5 win over the Hawks on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden:
Hero
It is becoming the Karl-Anthony Towns series.
The Hawks don’t have an answer for the Knicks big man, and New York is taking advantage of that mismatch.
Three days after he notched the first triple-double of his playoff career, Towns was again a dominant force.
This time, he torched Atlanta for 16 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals.
Zero
The key to the Hawks’ two victories, CJ McCollum was missing in action Tuesday.
The veteran guard was held to six points on 3-for-10 shooting, as Atlanta’s offensive struggles continued. In the past two games, McCollum is 11-for-25 shooting from the field.
Unsung hero
It felt like a quiet 39 points for Jalen Brunson, with everyone around him playing so well.
It was by far his best game of the series.
Brunson shot 15-for-23 from the field, didn’t force shots and also had eight assists and only one turnover in 35 quality minutes.
Key stat
52 — The Knicks’ positive point differential in the series over the past nine quarters.
Quote
“There is nothing that will deter the group. They’re a veteran group that knows what they want, and how to go get it no matter what’s in front of them.”
— Knicks coach Mike Brown.