Towns scores 30 points as hot-shooting Knicks overwhelm Hawks 121-105 and await Brunson's return

ATLANTA (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and 11 rebounds, and the hot-shooting New York Knicks took command with 40 points in the second period and beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-105 on Saturday.

OG Anunoby scored 24 points and Mikal Bridges added 20 for the Knicks, who solidified their hold on third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks made 15 of 29 3-pointers and overall were good on 53.6% of their shots from the field (45 of 84).

Trae Young scored 16 points for Atlanta while setting the team record for assists in a season. The Hawks are now locked into the play-in tournament, with the Milwaukee Bucks clinching a playoff spot after Atlanta's third straight loss and fifth in six games.

All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, who practiced with the Knicks on Friday for the first time since spraining his right ankle on March 6, missed his 15th consecutive game. He participated in pregame warmups.

“He's very close,” coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game. “When he's ready, we'll know.”

The Knicks are 9-6 since Brunson was hurt in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Takeaways

Knicks: The Knicks outscored Atlanta 40-22 in the second quarter to lead 78-53 at halftime.

Hawks: Young had nine assists and passed Doc Rivers' team record of 823 assists in the 1986-87 season. Young leads the NBA with 11.6 assists per game. He began the game tied with Rivers' single-season record and claimed the mark with a first-quarter pass that set up a dunk by Mouhamed Gueye. Young also recorded his 500th career steal in the first half.