NBA playoffs: Hawks take series lead over Knicks as Raptors get on the board

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-hawks/xAO4gBas/"]Hawks[/a] beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]Knicks[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/atlanta-hawks-xAO4gBas/new-york-knicks-WCNO4nbt/?mid=raBLS6Rs"]109-108[/a] in Atlanta, their second straight one-point triumph giving them the advantage in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Series.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-raptors/CxtbCMdU/"]Toronto Raptors[/a] also thrived at home, pulling away late [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers-xGk13Tb6/toronto-raptors-CxtbCMdU/?mid=neKdCos1"]in a 126-104 victory[/a] over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cleveland Cavaliers[/a] that cut the deficit in their series to 2-1.[/p][p]The Hawks produced a fine collective effort, especially on the defensive end, to thwart the third-seeded Knicks' comeback bid.[/p][p]With plenty of time after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mccollum-c-j/tl29t9eg/"]McCollum[/a]'s go-ahead basket, the Knicks were unable to get a shot off as the Hawks pressured [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brunson-jalen/YLRvL3v7/"]Jalen Brunson[/a] into a poor pass intended for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hart-josh/Cjknv7yj/"]Josh Hart[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kuminga-jonathan/dKgxjMRF/"]Jonathan Kuminga[/a] lunged in for a game-clinching steal.[/p][p]"[b]Picture perfect[/b]," McCollum said of the defensive display in the waning seconds. "[b]When it was time to get a stop our guys dug deep and they did what it takes to win in these types of environments.[/b]"[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/johnson-jalen/St5Wx0bR/"]Jalen Johnson[/a] scored 24 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out eight assists for the Hawks. McCollum added 23 points and Kuminga scored 21 off the bench.[/p][embed guid="50a26e0c-8690-4069-a365-66b10835fa51" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2047492741647515805?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Hawks had led by as many as 18 in the first half but the Knicks took a 108-105 lead on a three-point play by Brunson, who was fouled by McCollum on a drive to the basket and converted the free throw with 1:03 to play.[/p][p]Johnson pulled the Hawks back within one with a putback layup and, after misses by Hart and Brunson, McCollum came through.[/p][p]"[b]I got to a spot and did what I had to do to get this win,[/b]" McCollum said, but he was still irked with himself for fouling Brunson.[/p][p]McCollum said: "[b]I've got to be better[/b]."[/p][p]OG [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anunoby-og-ogugua/jiNJMxEa/"]Anunoby[/a] scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Knicks.[/p][p]Brunson scored 26 points and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/towns-karl-anthony/8np46E9P/"]Karl-Anthony Towns[/a] scored 21 points with 17 rebounds for New York, who will try to turn the tables in game four in Atlanta on Saturday.[/p][p]In Toronto, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barnes-scott/EuVVM62p/"]Scottie Barnes[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barrett-r-j/AoZEtF3g/"]RJ Barrett[/a] scored 33 points apiece, and rookie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murray-boyles-collin/42vQnij4/"]Collin Murray-Boyles[/a] added 22 off the bench for the Raptors.[/p][embed guid="f0227d0c-085a-494c-9746-9b53363a6bd6" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2047506357629129099?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Barnes handed out 11 assists and the Raptors, who took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter, stormed home.[/p][p]They connected on eight of nine three-point attempts in the final frame, out-scoring the Cavaliers 43-23.[/p][p]"[b]We knew we needed one,[/b]" said Barnes after the Raptors avoided falling behind 0-3 - a deficit no NBA team has come back from to win a playoff series.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harden-james/zm5V3CZo/"]James Harden[/a] scored 18 points and the Cavs got 15 from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-donovan/hhFqipLe/"]Donovan Mitchell[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mobley-evan/SrZZLQHj/"]Evan Mobley[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/strus-max/l6o0LpGA/"]Max Strus[/a].[/p][h2]Timberwolves dominate Nuggets[/h2][p]In Minneapolis, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gobert-rudy/boMyt82G/"]Rudy Gobert[/a] keyed a formidable Minnesota defensive effort in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-timberwolves/KjBIVQcI/"]Timberwolves'[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/denver-nuggets-CxvW27TI/minnesota-timberwolves-KjBIVQcI/?mid=UHY81USr"]113-96 victory[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jokic-nikola/dUHaiJ5n/"]Nikola Jokic[/a] and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denver-nuggets/CxvW27TI/"]Denver Nuggets[/a].[/p][p]The Timberwolves, who had erased an early 19-point deficit to snatch game two in Denver, seized a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference series and host game four on Saturday.[/p][p]Minnesota led all the way in this one, holding the Nuggets to 11 points in the first quarter and pushing their lead to as many as 27 in the third.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dosunmu-ayo/IesK6I5I/"]Ayo Dosunmu[/a] scored 25 points off the bench for the Timberwolves.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcdaniels-jaden/0pp52ftg/"]Jaden McDaniels[/a] scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edwards-anthony/6u0BMZM2/"]Anthony Edwards[/a], limited by foul trouble, scored 17.[/p][embed guid="c675532f-c200-434e-be19-aaa867540989" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2047547754633666565" social-type="twitter" /][p]Gobert kept three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic largely in check.[/p][p]The Serbian star finished with 27 points and 15 rebounds but connected on just seven of 26 shots from the field.[/p]