Knicks seize control of series with Game 5 domination vs. Hawks

One statistic tells the story of how the New York Knicks outplayed, outhustled and simply dominated the Atlanta Hawks in their Game 5 win. Knicks, 48 rebounds. Hawks, 27.

The Knicks led by 13 points after the first quarter and held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game on their way to a 126-97 victory. For the second straight game, they outshot the Hawks from three-point range while dominating inside and are one win away from advancing to the second round.

New York Knicks have seriously ramped up on defense

The Knicks held the Hawks under 100 points for the second straight game. The biggest change might have been their tighter transition defense. The Hawks had 20 fastbreak points in each of their wins. In Game 4, Atlanta got only seven points in transition, and in Game 5, it was four.

If the Hawks can't get out and run, they struggle to score on the Knicks in the half-court. OG Anunoby is outplaying Hawks All-Star Jalen Johnson on both ends, while Mikal Bridges is bothering the Hawks, who don't have a true point guard. The Knicks bring two excellent defenders in Jose Alvarado and Mitchell Robinson off the bench. Plus, they're cleaning the glass.

Anunoby had 10 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns grabbed 14. The Hawks managed only five offensive rebounds, which compounded their shooting woes. That manifested in a 31 percent shooting performance from three-point range on the heels of a 24 percent effort in Game 4.

Karl-Anthony Towns is crushing the Hawks

Towns had a 20-point triple-double in Game 4. Tuesday night, he delivered 16 points on only seven field-goal attempts, adding six assists, two steals and two blocks. He's simply too big and quick for anyone the Hawks can put on him on defense, and it opens up the floor for his teammates.