Brunson and Towns lead the Knicks past the Hawks 113-102 in Game 1 of their series

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 28 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 of his 25 in the second half and the New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.

OG Anunoby added 18 points and Josh Hart had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks in their first postseason game under Mike Brown after making four trips in five years under Tom Thibodeau, capped by their first trip to the Eastern Conference finals since 2000 last year.

The No. 3 seed in the East again this season hosts Game 2 on Monday night.

CJ McCollum had 26 points and Jalen Johnson added 23 for the Hawks, who went 20-6 after the All-Star break to earn the No. 6 seed.

“We know that they’re going to be ready for Game 2,” Brunson said. “So quick turnaround and extreme focus.”

Brunson, who already owns the Knicks' record with eight 40-point games in the postseason, was almost halfway to another in the first quarter. He made his first six shots and had 19 points as the Knicks led 30-24.

Brunson didn't do as much in the second half, but Towns took over after he was just 1 for 6 for six points at the break.

“We did a great job as a team just fighting and continuing to find ways to score and also impact winning,” Towns said.

The teams got off to sizzling starts, with the Knicks opening 8 for 9 and Atlanta 6 for 7, before play slowed to a crawl in the third quarter. McCollum was reviewed for a hostile act and called for a technical foul after kicking his leg up on a jumper into Brunson's groin area, and the Hawks twice intentionally fouled Mitchell Robinson, and the poor foul shooter went 1 for 4.

By the time the Hawks got going again, it was too late.

With the Knicks up by eight, Towns hit a 3-pointer, and after Gabe Vincent's basket, Jordan Clarkson had two buckets and Towns had a three-point play and a 3-pointer for a 10-0 burst that made it 106-87 with about 4 1/2 minutes remaining.

Atlanta ran off 11 straight to cut it to 106-98, but Towns scored to restore the double-digit lead.

“I like the way we came back at the end of the game,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “They were resilient in that situation, it was just too little, too late.”

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New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives past Atlanta Hawks' Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) blocks a shot by Atlanta Hawks' Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Knicks' Og Anunoby (8) dunks the ball in front of Atlanta Hawks' Jalen Johnson (1) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) shoots over Atlanta Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives past Atlanta Hawks' Jonathan Kuminga (0) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have placed receiver Puka Nacua on injured reserve, officially sidelining their All-Pro receiver for at least the next month.

The Rams announced the decision Thursday, one day after coach Sean McVay said the team hadn't determined whether it could afford to use an injured reserve slot for Nacua, who injured ligaments in his knee and toe on the final offensive snap of last week's win at Washington.

Nacua will miss at least the next four games for the Rams (5-4), who will be without their top two receivers for at least the next two games.

Davante Adams will miss his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury when the Rams visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but he hopes to return for a home game against Kansas City on Dec. 3.

The Rams had just four healthy wide receivers left on their 53-man roster this week before they promoted Brennan Presley from the practice squad Thursday. They also signed receiver Tyler Scott back to the practice squad after he spent the second half of last season with the unit.

Nacua has 70 receptions for 715 yards and four touchdowns in just seven games this season, driving the Rams' offense with his playmaking and versatility in his fourth NFL season. He won't be eligible to return from IR before the Rams host the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 20.

A season of heavy injury losses has depleted the Rams' roster flexibility heading into the second half of the regular season.

The Rams have already activated three players from injured reserve, including All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, and they have said they intend to activate Adams, defensive tackle Kobie Turner and tight end Terrance Ferguson before the season ends. If those moves happen and Nacua also returns, the Rams will have just one additional opportunity to designate a player to return from injured reserve in the regular season.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)