NBA Playoff Takeaways: Hawks Stun Knicks, Timberwolves Take Down Nugs

The Hawks and Wolves both pulled off impressive comeback wins on Monday night to steal games on the road.

Anthony Edwards had 20 points in the first half against the Nuggets Monday | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

After a chalky first weekend of the NBA playoffs—well, aside from the Pistons—the Knicks and Hawks provided our first true thriller of a first-round game.

New York controlled the great majority of Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, but the pesky Hawks had a big fourth quarter in them that brought an awesome finish. CJ McCollum has still got it as he had a huge night on Monday where he became the newest MSG villain.

McCollum’s offensive explosion was almost for nothing as a late three from Jalen Brunson brought the Knicks within one with under 10 seconds remaining. McCollum then missed two free throws when he was intentionally fouled, which gave New York a final chance at the end to win. The shot rimmed out and Atlanta evened the series on the back of its veteran acquisition at the trade deadline. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers handled the Raptors to open up their lead to 2–0 in the series. Toronto needs to figure out how to neutralize Cleveland’s stars quick if it wants to make this series interesting.

For the nightcap, we saw Nikola Jokić and Anthony Edwards went to war in Denver, with the Wolves pulling out the second impressive comeback of the night.

Here’s one takeaway from each game Monday night after our first Game 2 action of the opening round:

Cavs have too much star power for Raptors

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell reacts after a made basket against the Toronto Raptors. | David Dermer-Imagn Images

The Cavaliers stars put on an incredibly efficient show in Game 2 against the Raptors. Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley made a combined 33 of 50 shots and outscored the Toronto starters 83-60. 

Mitchell led all scorers with 30, Harden had 28 points on just 14 shots to go along with five rebounds, four assists and five steals. And in the process he passed Chris Paul for 11th all-time on the postseason steals list. 

The Raptors got 26 points from Scottie Barnes and 22 from RJ Barrett, but the other three starters, Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl and Jamal Shead combined for 12 points. While Ingram disappeared, at least he was on the court. Poeltl seemed to get benched in the first half and Collin Murray-Boyles took his place in the lineup at the start of the third quarter. 

CJ McCollum’s villain arc

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum and New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado exchange words while separated by referee Zach Zarba. | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Well that was quite the basketball game, huh?

The Knicks and Hawks treated us to the first true thriller of the NBA playoffs. New York controlled the game throughout until Atlanta dominated the fourth quarter and outscored the Knicks by 13 to come out on top with a 107–106 win and even the series at one game apiece.

It was CJ McCollum’s night as the veteran scorer finished with 32 points and made clutch shots late in the fourth. Until he missed two free throws to give the Knicks a final shot at the end, but we can forget about that since Mikal Bridges’s last-second shot clanked the iron. McCollum drew the ire of Knicks fans as he jawed with former Pelicans teammate Jose Alvarado.

Double Ts for McCollum & Alvarado, the Garden's new villain and new hero pic.twitter.com/T899DF0pKg

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 21, 2026

The crowd inside Madison Square Garden let McCollum hear about it which gave Knicks fans a new Hawk to target. You know, one who’s actually still on the team. Step aside, Trae Young.

CJ McCollum. New York City villain. How does it feel?

"I'm not a villain man I'm just here to compete"pic.twitter.com/PRdTiy26Wr

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 21, 2026

Atlanta bounces back with a thrilling win and evens the series as it heads to State Farm Arena for Game 3 on Thursday.

Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray disappear in the fourth quarter

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

If you tell Nuggets fans we’ll give you a close game in the fourth quarter and the ball in the hands of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, it’s a deal they’ll take 10 times out of 10, but on Monday night, Denver’s two biggest stars were nowhere to be seen in crunch time.

The star duo combined to go a dismal 2-of-12 from the floor over the final 12 minutes of action, missing several buckets that could have potentially been the dagger in a Nuggets win.

Even more shocking was Jokić passing up a chance at his signature floater to tie the game with 20 seconds to play to dump the ball off to Christian Braun under the basket. The Wolves fouled Braun to make him earn it at the line, and he missed his first free throw.

Gobert had Jokic SHOOK 😭

Jokic had a WIDE OPEN floater to tie the game and gave it up...

Braun missed a free throw pic.twitter.com/Y2Wfn6IP0t

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 21, 2026

The Nuggets aren’t going to go far in the playoffs if their two stars disappear in the fourth quarter. On the one hand, it feels unlikely that the duo will be shut down so completely in the fourth again. On the other, the damage is done, this game is lost, and the series is tied as we head to Minnesota.

That’s all for us from a busy night in the NBA. If you want to relive the action from Monday’s three games, you can scroll through our live blog below.

NBA playoffs scores, live updates and highlights from Cavaliers vs. Raptors, Knicks vs. Hawks and Nuggets vs. Timberwolves

Monday NBA playoffs schedule, previews and Game 1 recaps

Jamal Murray got off to a hot start in the Nuggets’ Game 1 win over the Timberwolves in the first round of the 2026 playoffs. | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105 (Game 2)

Cleveland held home court and took a 2–0 series lead on the Raptors with a big win on Monday night. The Cavaliers may just have too much star power for Toronto as James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley each scored 25 points or more. Brandon Ingram had a rough night as he went 3-for-15 from the field and scored just seven points. The series now heads to Toronto as the Cavs continued to roll.

Hawks 107, Knicks 106 (Game 2)

Well, that was the best game of the playoffs thus far. CJ McCollum went off for 32 points to tie the series between the Hawks and the Knicks at one game apiece. He turned into the latest New York villain while he was at it. Atlanta outscored New York by 13 points in the fourth quarter for an awesome comeback win. Jalen Brunson hit a three to give the Knicks life late, especially when McCollum missed two free throws on the other end. The misses gave Mikal Bridges a chance to win the game, but his midrange jumper rimmed out and Atlanta stole one on the road.

Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114 (Game 2)

This series is heading back to Minnesota tied 1–1. The Wolves erased a 19-point deficit and were able to stifle Nikola Jokić in the fourth quarter to hold on for the win. We saw thesee teams go seven games in the conference semifinals just two years ago, and this series feels like it could be heading that way after these first two games.

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