Hawks struggle in Game 4 loss to Knicks

The Hawks did not play their game.

As a team that thrives in transition, they quickly fell into the slog of the Knicks’ pace. They fell to the Knicks 114-98, dropping Game 4.

The Hawks finished the regular season in the top five in fastbreak points, averaging 17.7 per game. But the Hawks couldn’t take care of the ball after they made a stop, allowing the Knicks to earn extra possessions.

They had zero transition baskets through the first three quarters of Saturday’s action and finished the game with two fastbreak points.

Quick stats: CJ McCollum scored 17 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 15 points. Jalen Johnson had 14 points and five assists. Gabe Vincent added 10 points off the bench.

Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Jalen Brunson scored 19 points.

Turning point

The Hawks trailed the Knicks by seven at the end of the first quarter, but they would not make up ground in the second quarter. The Knicks had adjusted their matchups, putting Josh Hart on McCollum, which had left the Hawks’ offense sputtering.

But it went even colder in the second quarter, scoring just nine points in five minutes, while the Knicks raced out to a 12-point lead.

The Hawks never recovered, even after getting within 8 with 9:55 to play in the third quarter.

Highlight play

The last time the Hawks got the game within their grasp, they got and ran. With 8:52 to play, the Hawks got on a stop on a Jose Alvarado layup attempt. Onyeka Okongwu got the rebound and the Hawks took it up the floor, allowing them to space.

Okongwu took advantage of it and drove to the basket for a quick shot. It would be the last time the Hawks had the game within single digits.

What they said

“Yeah, it’s just thinking games like this doesn’t go the way you want you might have. We came off like two big, dramatic wins. You know, there’s a lot of talk buzz. You feel good. When you get in the game it doesn’t feel good. And these are ones you got to scratch and claw and find anything, any little thing that’s going to give you an advantage and edge to turn the tables, kind of and come out with a win. I think there’s chances we got the game within striking distance to make another run and to put them back, I guess on their heels, so to speak. Put the pressure on them, and I just feel like starting with me, I could be better and go along with the group.” -- Alexander-Walker on trying to hype up his teammates.

“They played better than us. They played harder than physical balls. Twelve turnovers in the first half. I had two or three in the first half. Can’t have that. Those are the types of momentum-swinging plays that allowed them to be comfortable.” -- McCollum on what happened on Saturday night.

“There’s no transition when you’re turning the ball over, bringing it up out of the net. We didn’t crash the way we needed to. Felt like there were 50-50 balls that they came up with. So we’ve just got to be better. We didn’t do the things we needed to do to win.” --Hawks coach Quin Snyder on what happened.

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