Game 2 at Madison Square Garden brought the intensity that the Atlanta Hawks desperately needed. After dropping Game 1 of the series, Atlanta rallied late in Game 2 to tie the series up 1-1 behind a 32-point explosion from CJ McCollum.
McCollum, whom the Hawks acquired as part of the Trae Young trade back in January, gave Knicks fans a scary sense of deja vu in Game 2. In just his second playoff game with Atlanta, McCollum put the team on his back in the 107-106 win, controlling the tempo and delivering clutch shots that were reminiscent of their emphatic run to the Eastern Conference Finals back in 2021.
When McCollum was first acquired in the blockbuster trade, he wasn't expected to replicate Young's theatrics. However, he has paid his homage to Young by seemingly taking on the role of New York's newest villain.
Trae Young stole the show for the Hawks in 2021
Atlanta's series versus the Knicks was the focal point of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Trae Young didn't just dominate the Knicks in that series; he meticulously whittled them down through his antics and his embrace of this "villain" character.
This moniker almost single-handedly powered Atlanta's improbable run to the Eastern Conference Finals, and CJ McCollum seems to be stepping into this same role now in 2026.
Game 2 did more for the Hawks than just tie the series up; it gave Atlanta an identity that's allowed them to continue building momentum off their strong end to the regular season. The 2021 Hawks thrived off of this energy and relentlessness, willing to embrace all of the love and hate that they warranted, and Knicks fans can feel that same competitive edge through two games.
McCollum needs to keep the ball rolling in Game 3
Heading into Game 3, Atlanta has the chance to prove that their Game 2 performance was no fluke. The Hawks now get a two-game stretch back at State Farm Arena, in a prime position to seize control and really tilt this series in their favor.
Riding the momentum sparked by CJ McCollum, Atlanta gets an opportunity to echo this same identity that fueled their run back in 2021 if they can rise to the occasion and embrace this familiar identity. The Hawks face the Knicks with a packed home crowd ready to bring the same type of energy that Knicks fans know all too well.
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