The Atlanta Hawks shocked the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Down by 12 points to start the fourth quarter, the Hawks came storming back, led by CJ McCollum, to earn the 107-106 win. The Hawks have stolen homecourt advantage and will head home to State Farm Arena in Atlanta with the series tied 1-1.
McCollum finished with 32 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. He went 12-for-22 from the field, scoring six of his 32 points late in the fourth quarter.
McCollum Comes Nose-to-Nose with Jose Alvarado
GettyJose Alvarado and CJ McCollum during their time as teammates with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Knicks were in control for the majority of the game. Things got a bit heated late in the third quarter, when McCollum got nose-to-nose with Jose Alvarado.
The former New Orleans Pelicans teammates have been talking trash against each other all game. The refs have had enough of their shenanigans, and both players were called for a technical foul.
After the incident, the MSG crowd chanted “F*ck you, CJ” at the Hawks veteran. The Knicks were up by 11 points at that point, and their fans got a little too comfortable. McCollum got the last laugh as he torched the Knicks in the fourth quarter with several clutch buckets.
McCollum Comments on Alvarado Exchange
GettyCJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks during an NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Speaking to reporters after the game, McCollum was asked about the heated moments in Game 2. Alvarado wasn’t mentioned, but it was obvious that the question alluded to the exchange between the two players.
“That’s just basketball,” McCollum said. “We got a lot on the line, they got a lot on the line. This is how I feed my family, so it is what it is.”
McCollum and Alvarado were teammates in New Orleans for three and a half seasons from 2022 to 2025. The veteran served as the starting point guard for the Pelicans, while Alvarado primarily came off the bench.
Is McCollum The Newest Knicks Villain?
GettyJalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives against CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to his heated moment with Alvarado in Game 2, McCollum has seemingly drawn the ire of many Knicks fans for his comments about Jalen Brunson after Game 1. The 34-year-old guard accused Brunson of flopping for selling contact that led to a technical foul on McCollum.
Since Trae Young is no longer with the Hawks, the Knicks have turned their attention to McCollum. He has now been labeled a villain in the media, but the player immediately pushed back on the narrative after Monday’s win.
“I am no villain,” McCollum said. “I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife. I think it’s admiration. Great passionate fans in a really hostile environment, it’s fun, it’s basketball, it’s the playoffs. If anything, I think it’s a sign of respect.”
While Knicks fans might disagree, Hawks fans are expected to welcome McCollum as a hero for what he did in Game 2. The series resumes on Thursday, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.
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