Towns scores 30 points as hot-shooting Knicks overwhelm Hawks 121-105 and await Brunson's return

ATLANTA (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and 11 rebounds, and the hot-shooting New York Knicks took command with 40 points in the second period and beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-105 on Saturday.

OG Anunoby scored 24 points and Mikal Bridges added 20 for the Knicks, who solidified their hold on third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks made 15 of 29 3-pointers and overall were good on 53.6% of their shots from the field (45 of 84).

Trae Young scored 16 points for Atlanta while setting the team record for assists in a season. The Hawks are now locked into the play-in tournament, with the Milwaukee Bucks clinching a playoff spot after Atlanta's third straight loss and fifth in six games.

All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, who practiced with the Knicks on Friday for the first time since spraining his right ankle on March 6, missed his 15th consecutive game. He participated in pregame warmups.

“He's very close,” coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game. “When he's ready, we'll know.”

The Knicks are 9-6 since Brunson was hurt in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Knicks: The Knicks outscored Atlanta 40-22 in the second quarter to lead 78-53 at halftime.

Hawks: Young had nine assists and passed Doc Rivers' team record of 823 assists in the 1986-87 season. Young leads the NBA with 11.6 assists per game. He began the game tied with Rivers' single-season record and claimed the mark with a first-quarter pass that set up a dunk by Mouhamed Gueye. Young also recorded his 500th career steal in the first half.

The Knicks led 51-41 before stretching the lead to 25 points with a 15-0 run. Anunoby's 3-pointer capped the run for a 66-41 lead.

The Knicks' 78 first-half points are the most allowed by Atlanta before halftime this season.

Each team plays again on Sunday. Atlanta hosts Utah while the Knicks host Phoenix.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne (1) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks guard Caris LeVert (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) shoots over Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) attempts to pass the ball over Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks forward MarJon Beauchamp (14) defends against Atlanta Hawks guard Caris LeVert (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) attempts a basket past Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17)during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) attempts a basket against Atlanta Hawks guard Terance Mann (14) and forward Dominick Barlow (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa, right, attempts a basket over Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) dribbles the ball past Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) handles the ball against Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto wants his side to focus on the West Indies test cricket series which starts on Wednesday, rather than think about a potential World Test Championship final.

Fourth in the 2025-27 WTC standings, Bangladesh needs to win at least four of its remaining six matches and draw one to keep up hopes of reaching the final for the first time.

The team has already played six matches, winning three, losing two and drawing one. The three victories included a 2-0 sweep over Pakistan and a historic triumph in Australia.

After the series against West Indies, Bangladesh will play two tests in South Africa and two at home against England.

‘As I said always, if we can fulfil the small target, we’ll achieve the bigger target. So the immediate focus is onto the series against West Indies," Shanto said. “We have to maintain the process, play as a unit like we did in the other series.”

Bangladesh lost a test against Zimbabwe and drew with Afghanistan, both games were not part of the WTC and were held in the UAE.

“We should have won the test against Afghanistan but we didn’t play good cricket in the last two days," Shanto said.

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons believes the ambition of reaching the WTC final will keep his players fully motivated.

“I think everyone is very focused on the test match," he said. "I think there’s that goal and that desire to play in the World Test Championship final, and this is the first time we’ve had that opportunity to be there.

Bangladesh and West Indies have played 11 Test series, with Bangladesh winning twice in 2009 and 2018. West Indies has won eight times and one ended in a draw.

In 22 tests between the teams, Bangladesh has won five and lost 15.

West Indies won its most recent test series in Bangladesh, sweeping the two-match contest in 2021.

West Indies is eighth in the WTC standings and this series marks its final assignment in the cycle.

The team is yet to lose a test series this year and recently put up a strong fight in ODIs and T20s in India.

Head coach Darren Sammy believes those performances will inspire his players against Bangladesh.

“We obviously know Bangladesh has been playing some good cricket, but so have we been playing some good cricket this year,” Sammy said. “When we started the World Test Championship ... we’re right where we wanted to be.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

FILE -Bangladesh's Najmul Hossain Shanto fields off the ball during the third one-day international cricket match between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in Harare, Zimbabwe, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Wonder Mashura, File)