The New York Knicks eliminated the Atlanta Hawks, 140-89, in Game 6 of the NBA Playoffs first round on Thursday night.
The Hawks lost by 51 points, the worst playoff loss in franchise history since its move from St. Louis to Atlanta. The NBA record for largest margin in a playoff loss is 58 points.
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The Knicks scored 83 points in the first half, including 40 in the first quarter, while the Hawks couldn’t find their footing with only 36 points.
It was the largest halftime deficit in NBA playoffs history.
Just before halftime, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and New York’s Mitchell Robinson got into a fight after a free throw attempt. Both Daniels and Robinson were ejected.
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After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said his guys entered Game 6 prepared and ready to play.
He never expect his team to fall into a deep hole so early in the game.
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“Their physicality, they made it hard for us and we obviously didn’t respond in a way that generated the results that we wanted,” Snyder said. “You can see what a really good team they are and why they’re a contender and we didn’t have an answer for that tonight.”
The Hawks will enter the offseason with disappointment, but there is still hope for the future. They remain one of the youngest teams in the NBA and could have a top draft pick in June.