What happened
CJ McCollum drained a go-ahead three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Atlanta Hawks to a 108-106 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series Friday. It marks the second game-winning shot by McCollum in the series. The Hawks force a decisive Game 7.
Why it matters
McCollum's clutch play has transformed Atlanta into a dangerous playoff threat, flipping series odds from +300 underdogs to even money. Bettors cashed big on Hawks ML at +220. This keeps Atlanta's upset bid alive against a Knicks team favored to reach ECF.
The data edge
Pre-game odds: Knicks -6 (opened -5), total 218 (hit under). Live ML swung to Hawks -120 final minute. Hawks 2025-26: 49-33 (4th East). McCollum playoffs: 26.8 PPG, 47% 3PT (series). Head-to-head: Hawks 3-2 Knicks playoffs.
What to watch
Game 7 is Sunday in Atlanta; winner advances to second round.