CJ McCollum Silences the Garden as Hawks Even Series with Knicks

The Dukes & Bell podcast recaps Game 3 of the Hawks-Knicks playoff series, highlighting C.J. McCollum's pivotal performance in leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 107-106 victory and evening the series at 1-1. The hosts praise McCollum’s clutch plays, particularly his game-winning drive and basket with 10 seconds left, as well as his ability to silence the hostile Garden crowd. They also spotlight Jonathan Kaminga’s breakout role as the best six-man on the floor, emphasizing his emotional energy, defensive intensity, and offensive impact. The discussion turns to critical coaching missteps by Knicks head coach Mike Brown, especially his failure to use timeouts under the NBA’s 'use it or lose it' rule, which cost the Knicks a chance to set up a final play for Jalen Brunson. The hosts express skepticism about Brown’s decision-making and contrast it with the Hawks’ resilience and hustle, noting their 14 turnovers turned into 18 points and their ability to win 50-50 battles. They also reflect on the broader playoff narrative, questioning whether the Hawks can sustain this level of play and whether McCollum can maintain his star performance over multiple games. The episode ends with a preview of upcoming guests and a call for fans to support the team in person.