The headline going into last night’s game was that the Knicks haven’t beat a winning team in over a month. Do the Knicks have a “playoff switch”? What is going on with this team?

The Knicks looked like they are primed and ready to turn that “switch” on. They meet the hottest team in the league last night, the Atlanta Hawks, who have won now 17 of their last 20.

This game had all the feel of their perhaps eventual first round playoff matchup from the jump ball. Haymaker after haymaker, the Hawks looked to make a statement on their home floor.

That statement was being made especially by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, cousin of the league’s reigning MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 20 points in the first and appeared un-guardable.

However, the Knicks stayed strong and in the game behind three best defensive players, while their All Star duo struggled. OG and Mikal poured in 13 each, and Mitchell Robinson was an absolute beast on the glass changing the entire tenor of the game in his limited minutes.

“Big Mitch” had 4 points 6 rebounds 2 blocks and 1 steal in just 9 minutes of play while also keeping numerous possessions alive. Which unfortunately does not show up in the box score.

The Hawks took a 4 point lead into the break.

The Knicks survived the Hawks run, which found them by down as much as ten points in the period, by feeding Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT had a dominant 14 points and 5 rebounds on 6/7 shooting from the field in the third alone.

The Hawks did not go away and the game was neck and neck down to the wire. And at one point when the Knicks went back down five it looked like the game was getting away from them.

Enter Captain Clutch. Jalen Brunson showed us he is absolutely ready for the postseason. He entered back into the game with six minutes left sitting on 13 points.

He finished the game with 30 points. He had a total of 17 points in the fourth alone, 14 of which coming in the final 3:35. Including the game winning shot with 28.7 seconds left as well as the game winning free throws.

Those free throws, in fact, being the most important if this shot from half court would have counted by Atlanta Hawks guard C.J. McCollum. However, the refs deemed it after the buzzer. Game Over. Good guys win, 108-105.

This was refreshing to have the Knicks get a gritty away game win against a hot team in the conference especially with that playoff-like atmosphere that was there last night. The intensity was evident and one can only hope this will be a building block going into that Boston Celtics game at home on Thursday.

Knicks Top Performers Recap:

Jalen Brunson: 30 points 13 assists 3 rebounds 2 steals

OG Anunoby: 22 points 5 rebounds 2 blocks

Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 points 12 rebounds 6 assists 2 steals 1 block

Mitchell Robinson: 12 rebounds 8 points 3 blocks 2 steals