CJ McCollum's late surge helps Hawks stun Knicks in Game 2

In a dramatic turn of events during Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, the Atlanta Hawks rallied late to stun the New York Knicks, tying the best-of-seven playoff series at one game apiece.

Veteran guard CJ McCollum orchestrated the comeback, scoring six of his game-high 32 points in the final two-plus minutes of Monday night's contest.

The visitors surged from an eight-point deficit in the last five minutes to secure a thrilling 107-106 victory over the home squad.

Before this concluding surge, Atlanta held a narrow 36-35 lead, but the momentum shifted when Jalen Brunson hit a floater for New York with 5:26 remaining in the game.

The teams exchanged empty possessions until the Hawks scored on their next three opportunities, narrowing the gap to 100-99 thanks to a layup by Jalen Johnson with 3:25 left on the clock.

McCollum drove past Brunson to gain the advantage with a layup at the 2:08 mark, sparking a frantic final sequence that defined the match.

New York's OG Anunoby missed two free throws, followed by a short jumper from McCollum and a three-pointer by Brunson that tied the score at 103-103.

The Hawks briefly regained the lead after McCollum committed a turnover and Brunson missed a mid-range attempt, before McCollum sealed the game with a fadeaway jumper from the left baseline with 33.5 seconds remaining.

With 10.2 seconds left, Nickeil Alexander-Walker blocked Brunson's shot and passed to Johnson for a dunk that extended Atlanta's lead to 107-103.

Following a timeout, Brunson sank a three-pointer that circled the rim, but McCollum was subsequently fouled by Hart and missed both free throws as time wound down.

The Knicks possessed one timeout remaining and pushed the ball upcourt, but Hart's pass to Mikal Bridges resulted in a missed 12-foot attempt from the left wing as time expired.

Shooting efficiency played a pivotal role in the outcome, with the Hawks hitting 72.2 percent of their fourth-quarter shots compared to the Knicks' dismal 22.7 percent.

Jonathan Kuminga provided a spark off the bench with 19 points, while Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu also recorded double-digit scoring efforts for Atlanta.

On the opposing side, Brunson led the Knicks with 29 points, while Hart contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds alongside Karl-Anthony Towns' 18 points.

Anunoby finished with 14 points, Mitchell Robinson added 13 points from the bench, and Bridges chipped in 10 points for New York.

This upset victory sets the stage for Game 3, which is scheduled for Thursday night in Atlanta, as the Hawks look to maintain their momentum.