Knicks crush Hawks in record-setting 140-89 Game 6 rout to end Atlanta’s season

ATLANTA (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 29 points in 27 minutes, Karl-Anthony Towns had his second triple-double of the series and the New York Knicks had their biggest playoff victory in franchise history, overwhelming and eliminating the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 in Game 6 on Thursday night.

The Knicks broke several NBA records by halftime. Their 40-15 lead at the end of the first quarter marked the largest of the shot clock era. Their 47-point halftime lead was the biggest in playoff history.

It was New York’s third straight win after falling to 1-2 in the series following back-to-back one-point losses.

“It speaks volumes on our team that we were able to bounce back from two disappointing losses,” Towns said. “We had to step up to the challenge of being down in the series — super proud of our guys for that.”

New York's 51-point win tied for the sixth-largest margin of victory in NBA postseason history.

Dyson Daniels and Mitchell Robinson were ejected after fighting following a pair of free throws from Anunoby that gave the Knicks a 50-point lead in the second quarter.

The Knicks exceeded 100 points with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter. New York's starters were done for the night with 2:45 remaining in the third.

“It was just a tough position to be in,” Atlanta's Jalen Johnson said. “We dug ourselves a deep hole from the start and it was tough to climb out of that.”

Anunoby scored 26 of his points in the first half. Mikal Bridges finished with 24. Towns, five days after becoming the fourth Knicks player with a playoff triple-double, had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Hawks were 12 for 39 from the field in the first half and 4 for 18 from 3-point range. Atlanta had 14 turnovers in the first half.

Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga each had 11 points.

The Knicks will face the winner of the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers series in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) and Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) fight in the first half during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates after scoring in the first half during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Atlanta Hawks Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) and Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) fight in the first half during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates scoring in the first half during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Atlanta Hawks Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) celebrates after scoring in the first half during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Atlanta Hawks Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

BOSTON (AP) — Willson Contreras hit a three-run home run and the Boston Red Sox held off the San Francisco Giants 6-4 on Friday night in the return of Rafael Devers to Fenway Park.

The Giants pulled within 5-4 in the fourth inning after Drew Gilbert hit a two-run homer off Boston starter Sonny Gray, and Devers followed with a solo homer, his 26th this season.

But Wilyer Abreu’s RBI triple in the sixth gave Boston enough cushion. Gray (16-3) pitched six innings, allowing four runs off seven hits and while striking out six. Aroldis Chapman struck out three and walked one in the ninth to pick up his 28th save.

Bryce Eldridge added an RBI single for San Francisco.

Contreras jumped on an 85-mph changeup from Giants starter Logan Webb (8-8) and crushed a 450-foot rope over the Green Monster and out of stadium for his 26th homer to put the Red Sox in front 3-1.

It was part of a five-run inning for Boston. Webb walked Andruw Monasterio with the bases loaded and then hit Mickey Gasper to let in another run before being pulled.

Friday marked Devers’ first time back at Fenway Park since a refusal to play first base contributed to the three-time All-Star being traded to San Francisco 14 months ago.

Devers received a mix of cheers and boos when he was introduced. The boos were more prominent when he came up to bat. Then, when Gray struck him out, the home crowd erupted in applause.

But Boston fans also cheered for Devers between the first and second innings after a highlight video of him was played on the video screen. Devers was shown on camera applauding and waving.

Giants RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0, 4.33 ERA) will matchup against Red Sox LHP Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.76).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu heads toward first base after hitting an RBI triple during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers reacts to being back at Fenway Park before a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

Boston Red Sox's Willson Contreras, right, reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)