McCollum ruins Knicks' night again, leading the Hawks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-1 lead

ATLANTA (AP) — CJ McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds left to ruin New York's night again, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-1 lead over the Knicks in their first-round playoff series on Thursday night.

After starring in a Game 2 stunner at Madison Square Garden, McCollum got the ball with his team trailing by a point. He came through again from 15 feet, finishing with 23 points.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder called it “a great shot,” but stressed the effort of his entire team.

“They work, they share,” Snyder said. “That's the thing about this group that I've enjoyed so much.”

The Hawks led nearly the entire game, building an 18-point lead in the first half. But New York rallied for a 108-105 edge on Jalen Brunson's three-point play with 1:03 remaining.

After Jalen Johnson, who led the Hawks with 24 points, rolled in a shot, Josh Hart missed a 3-pointer for the Knicks. New York got the offensive rebound, but couldn't get off a shot ahead of the 24-second clock.

“You couldn't ask for anything better than that,” Knicks coach Mike Brown lamented. “Less than a minute to go in the game and a chance to go up by three.”

The Knicks failed to get off a shot at the end, either, as Brunson turned the ball over and the horn sounded.

Jonathan Kuminga had a huge night for the Hawks off the bench, finishing with 21 points.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 29 points, Brunson had 26 and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 21. It wasn't enough for New York.

Brown griped about the officiating, believing the refs missed some calls at the basket. But he stressed that his team must make better decisions going forward.

Game 4 is Saturday in Atlanta.

“They're closing out hard," Brown said of the Hawks. ”It's a tough game for the officials to officiate, but I know we got fouled on a few of the tries that didn't get called."

McCollum picked up were he left off at Madison Square Garden, hitting a step-back jumper beyond the arc for Atlanta's first points. He had 16 by the halftime break.

McCollum showed off more than his offensive skills. After Hart scooped up a loose ball and drove toward the hoop with only the Atlanta guard to beat, McCollum blocked the shot and sent the ball off Hart's foot to give possession back to the Hawks.

The Hawks outscored the Knicks 27-12 over the final seven minutes of the opening quarter, turning the game in their favor with an 11-0 spurt and closing the period with three straight 3-pointers. The first was by little-used center Mouhamed Gueye, left wide open by the New York defense, followed by two straight from backup forward Kuminga to send the State Farm Arena crowd into a frenzy.

But, with the Hawks on the verge of blowing the game open late in the first half, New York closed the the period on a 12-2 run. Atlanta went to the locker room with a 58-50 lead.

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

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, left, blocks a shot from New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) while forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) defends during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) reacts after a dunk against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) and forward Og Anunoby (8) during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Atlanta Hawks, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) reacts to the crowd during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the New York Knicks, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum, left, and forward Jalen Johnson, right, react after Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the New York Knicks, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys went defense with both of their first-round picks in the NFL draft, inching up one spot to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 and moving down three positions to get UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd choice Thursday night.

The Cowboys trying to bolster one of the NFL's worst defenses was expected, and they took no chances on getting a player they wanted in Downs. Dallas sent the 12th pick and two fifth-rounders to Miami.

Dallas drafted Lawrence after sending the 20th pick and a seventh-round choice to Philadelphia. Dallas added two fourth-round picks in the deal.

Downs was a two-time Associated Press All-American with the Buckeyes after starting his career at Alabama, and has a career record of 1-1 at the home of the Cowboys.

He helped Ohio State win the national championship in 2024, including a victory over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals at AT&T Stadium. The Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the CFP last year before getting knocked off by Miami in the Cotton Bowl.

About two hours before the start of the draft, two people with knowledge of the decision said receiver George Pickens was planning to sign the $27.3 million franchise tag with the Cowboys. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing wasn't official.

News of Pickens' decision sparked trade speculation because the 25-year-old has to be under contract to be dealt to another team, but Dallas made no such move before bolstering the defense.

The Cowboys entered the draft with needs everywhere for a defense that gave up the most points (511) with the fewest interceptions (six) in franchise history last season as Dallas missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Downs, considered one of the most polished players in the draft after 44 college games and the rare distinction of five CFP starts, should be an immediate upgrade for defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who was hired away from Philadelphia this offseason. Parker turned a pair of defensive backs — Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell — into All-Pros with the Eagles last season.

Downs will join a group that includes 2023 All-Pro cornerback Daron Bland, who has been plagued by foot injuries the past two years, and Shavon Revel Jr.

Revel was a third-round pick coming off a major knee injury last year but managed to get on the field for the final seven games. The Cowboys think highly of the young cornerback's coverage skills.

Dallas added two safeties in free agency in Jalen Thompson, who spent his first six seasons with Arizona, and P.J. Locke.

Malik Hooker, a starting safety the past three years in Dallas, has one year left on his contract. Downs has the loftiest draft position for an Ohio State safety since Hooker went 15th to Indianapolis 11 years ago.

With Pickens presumably in the fold after thriving in his first season alongside CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas offense is set to return all of its key players, including quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Javonte Williams.

There are some questions on the offensive line, but the Cowboys drafted a blocker in the first round three of the previous four seasons. All three — Tyler Smith (2022), Tyler Guyton (’24) and Tyler Booker (’25) — are projected starters.

Dallas was on the short list of suitors for Maxx Crosby before the star edge rusher’s proposed trade from Las Vegas to Baltimore was called off by the Ravens over medical concerns. The Cowboys pivoted to Rashan Gary, acquiring him in a trade just as free agency was getting started in March.

Even with that move, pass rush was still a consideration because pressuring the quarterback has been in flux since Dallas traded Parsons in the middle of a contentious contract stalemate.

The 6-foot-5, 253-pound Lawrence had seven sacks among a career-high 11 tackles for loss as a senior at UCF. He was one of four players in the Football Bowl Subdivision to have at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs walks on stage before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs walks on stage after being chosen by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs puts on a hat after being chosen by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)