Overview
- The Knicks, who routed the Hawks 126-97 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, now lead the first-round series 3-2 and can clinch in Game 6.
- Head coach Mike Brown says he tunes out media noise by watching HGTV and has kept the same starting five despite loud calls for changes.
- Mikal Bridges remains a starter but has struggled with three straight single-digit games and saw reduced second-half minutes in Games 3 and 4.
- Brown leaned more on Karl-Anthony Towns in the offense, and Game 5 featured Towns posting 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as Jalen Brunson scored 39.
- Pressure around the job has intensified after owner James Dolan set a Finals-as-floor bar, even as analysts point to a likely Celtics matchup as the real East litmus test.