Knicks demolish Hawks 140-89, seize largest halftime lead in NBA playoff history

Key facts

• New York Knicks defeated Atlanta Hawks 140-89 on Thursday night, winning the first-round series 4-2.
• The Knicks built a 67-13 run to secure the largest halftime lead in NBA playoff history.
• Minnesota Timberwolves beat Denver Nuggets 110-98, winning their series 4-2 and advancing to the second round.
• Philadelphia 76ers defeated Boston Celtics 106-93, tying their series at 3-3.
• Detroit Pistons finished as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
• Oklahoma City Thunder secured the top seed in the Western Conference for the second straight season.
• Boston Celtics finished second in the East despite Jayson Tatum recovering from an Achilles injury.
• San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, finished two games behind the Thunder in the West.

A historic rout in New York

The New York Knicks delivered a statement performance Thursday night, obliterating the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 to close out their first-round playoff series in six games. The victory was never in doubt: New York seized an early lead and then unleashed a staggering 67-13 run that produced the largest halftime advantage in NBA postseason history. The blowout win propels the Knicks into the second round, where they will face the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers-Boston Celtics series, currently tied at 3-3 after Philadelphia's 106-93 win on Thursday.

Minnesota finishes off Denver

The Minnesota Timberwolves also advanced Thursday, defeating the defending champion Denver Nuggets 110-98 to win their series 4-2. The Timberwolves, who entered the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, will now face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series, which the Lakers lead 3-2. Denver's elimination marks a stunning early exit for a team that had been favored to contend for another title.

Playoff picture and series odds

The first round continues with three Game 6s scheduled for Friday: the Detroit Pistons visit the Orlando Magic (Magic lead 3-2), the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to the Toronto Raptors (Cavaliers lead 3-2), and the Los Angeles Lakers play at the Houston Rockets (Lakers lead 3-2). Betting markets reflect wide disparities in perceived strength: the Cleveland Cavaliers are heavy favorites at -2000 against the Toronto Raptors (10-1), while the Boston Celtics are -310 to win their series despite the current tie. The Orlando Magic are slight favorites (-125) over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons (+105).

Regular-season context and seeding

The Detroit Pistons secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a strong regular-season finish. The Boston Celtics, despite playing most of the season without Jayson Tatum as he recovered from an Achilles injury suffered in last year's playoffs, earned the second seed. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed the top seed for the second consecutive year, finishing two games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs, who were powered by Victor Wembanyama. The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic emerged from the East play-in tournament, while the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns advanced from the West play-in; both were eliminated in the first round.

What comes next

With two series already decided, the second round will begin once the remaining first-round matchups conclude. The Knicks await the winner of the 76ers-Celtics series, while the Timberwolves will face either the Lakers or Rockets. The top-seeded Pistons and Cavaliers are still playing their first-round series, and the Thunder and Spurs have yet to begin their second-round campaigns. The coming days will determine whether any lower seeds can continue their runs or if the favorites will assert dominance.

The bottom line

• The Knicks' 67-13 run set a new NBA playoff record for largest halftime lead, underscoring their offensive firepower.
• Minnesota's elimination of Denver marks a significant upset, as the Nuggets were a top contender.
• Philadelphia forced a Game 7 against Boston, keeping their season alive with a 106-93 victory.
• Detroit, despite being the East's top seed, is an underdog in its series against Orlando according to betting odds.
• Cleveland holds a commanding 3-2 series lead and is heavily favored to advance against Toronto.
• The second round promises high-stakes matchups, with the Knicks and Timberwolves already waiting.