CJ McCollum wasn’t supposed to be the primary story of the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks’ first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. The veteran guard was merely a rotation piece that the Hawks acquired in what was considered a relatively modest Trae Young trade return. However, three games in, that script has quickly been flipped.
McCollum once again came through in crunch time during Thursday’s 109-108 Game 3 home win to give Atlanta a 2-1 series lead. His clutch heroics left the Knicks wondering how their comeback bid slipped away in the final seconds, with the NBA world attempting to process the shocking result.
CJ McCollum’s Game 3 Game-Winner Draws Strong Reactions From NBA Media
The final sequence of the game didn’t go according to plan for New York. After Jalen Brunson’s three-point play put the Knicks up 108-105 with 1:03 left after trailing by as many as 18 points, Hawks star Jalen Johnson cut their lead to one point with a putback on the other end.
Brunson then airballed a fadeaway jumper on an ensuing possession, paving the way for McCollum to bury a step-back midrange shot to put Atlanta in front 109-108 with 12.5 seconds remaining.
The Hawks’ lockdown defense then forced Brunson into a turnover on the final possession, leaving New York unable to get off a shot to try to win the game.
“CJ McCollum wins it for Atlanta again,” SportsCenter posted, referencing McCollum’s similar late-game brilliance in Monday’s 107-106 Game 2 road win.
“WE REALLY SLEPT ON CJ MCCOLLUM,” Legion Hoops erupted, alluding to McCollum’s sudden rise from a veteran role player to a playoff centerpiece for Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Athletic’s Esfandiar Baraheni backtracked on his pre-series prediction.
“I was dead wrong about the Hawks. I think I also had way too much confidence in the Knicks. Atlanta matches up really well against them, and CJ is reminding everyone he does this. Very fun series,” Baraheni admitted.
As for Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, he zeroed in on the Knicks’ coaching shortcomings.
“I would have loved to have seen the Knicks go to someone other than Jalen Brunson on that final play. Hawks unsurprisingly did everything to deny him the ball and doubled on the drive. OG [Anunoby] + [Miles] McBride on fire…Mike Brown really couldn’t draw up something creative for them?” O’Connor questioned.
The Volume’s Jason Timpf also broke down McCollum and Brunson’s head-to-head matchup, highlighting the former’s advantage.
“Brunson got a late bucket on CJ, but he struggled against Atlanta’s best defenders all night. CJ, on the other hand, got two tough ones to go over Hart/McBride. That was the difference in a game both teams did a great job avoiding switches. CJ has been better through 3 games,” Timpf asserted.
Additionally, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons dubbed McCollum’s ascent the storyline of the postseason so far.
“Every year in Round One there’s a random Making-the-Leap guy… and somehow this year it’s 34-year-old CJ McCollum. I love the playoffs!!!!” Simmons exclaimed.
How McCollum Has Taken Over the Knicks-Hawks Series
On top of his game-winner, McCollum finished Game 3 with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. This came after the 34-year-old dropped a game-high 32 points in Game 2, controlling the tempo late to secure the Hawks’ first win of the series.
When Atlanta acquired McCollum from the Washington Wizards in January as part of its Young trade, the expectation was that he’d be a steady complementary scorer. Nobody expected him to take over a playoff series against a veteran-laden Knicks squad.
McCollum’s shot-making in the fourth quarter has defined both of the Hawks’ victories, giving them the upper hand entering Saturday’s pivotal Game 4 clash in Atlanta.
