Knicks deliver largest first half playoff lead in NBA history

OG Anunoby (YouTube)

The New York Knicks put down a historic smackdown on the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The Knicks defeated the Hawks by 51 points (140-89). In the process, the Knicks set numerous franchise records. They included most points in a playoff game (140), most dominant playoff win in franchise history (51 points), largest first half lead (47 points), and most points in one playoff half (83). In the process, the Knicks eliminated Atlanta four games to two in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

The 47 point lead after the first half was the largest margin by one team in NBA playoff history. The Knicks were leading the Hawks 83-36. The previous records according to Jay Busbee of Yahoo! Sports were 41 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers led the Boston Celtics 72-31 in game two of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals in a 130-86 win. The Indiana Pacers led the Cavaliers 80-39 in game four of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals in a 129-109 win.

The previous franchise record for most points by the Knicks in a playoff game was 135 points. They accomplished the feat in a 135-108 Knicks win over the Boston Celtics on May 4, 1990, and in a 138-135 Knicks loss to the Pacers on May 21, 2025.The previous Knicks record for most dominant win in playoff franchise history was 38 points in game six of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, a 119-81 New York win.

The Knicks leading scorer on Thursday was OG Anunoby, who had 29 points. It was also a notable game for Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, who had his second career playoff triple double. He had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

New York will play the winner of the Boston/Philadelphia series. That series is deadlocked at three games apiece.