Magic Johnson Makes Bold Knicks Claim After Dominant Win Over Hawks

Magic Johnson is clearly not waiting for the Knicks-Hawks series to be over before looking at the bigger picture. After New York's 114-98 win over Atlanta in Game 4, which tied the series at 2-2, Magic made a bold claim about where the Knicks stand in the Eastern Conference.

While there is still plenty of basketball left and the series could easily swing either way, Johnson believes the Knicks have shown enough to be taken seriously as a real threat. In fact, he went as far as saying New York might be the only team in the East capable of beating the Boston Celtics, especially when Karl-Anthony Towns plays with the kind of control, physicality, and all-around impact he showed in their latest win.

Johnson took to X to say, "The New York Knicks dominated the Atlanta Hawks in a 114-98 victory last night. They showed me once again why they're the only team in the East that can beat the Boston Celtics! The Knicks had five guys in double figures and were led by Karl Anthony Towns who had a triple double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists! When Karl Anthony Towns plays like he did last night with physicality on both ends of the court the Knicks are hard to beat!"

How Did the Knicks Level the Series in Game Four?

The Knicks did not just win Game 4, they made the whole series feel different again.

After two frustrating losses, New York needed a cleaner, sharper performance against Atlanta, and that is exactly what it delivered. The Knicks came out with more energy, moved the ball better, defended with more purpose, and slowly turned the night into a comfortable 114-98 win.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the biggest reason New York looked so steady. He controlled the game without forcing things, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for his first postseason triple-double. OG Anunoby gave the Knicks a major scoring lift with 22 points, while Jalen Brunson added 19 and helped keep the offense organized.

Atlanta never really found the same rhythm that carried it through the previous two games. The Knicks made life tougher for CJ McCollum, especially from the outside, and kept the Hawks from building any real momentum. By the time New York's lead grew in the second half, the game felt more or less out of reach.

Now the series is tied 2-2, and Game 5 shifts to Madison Square Garden. There is still a long way to go, but after this kind of response, the Knicks suddenly look like a team that has found its edge again.

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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 12:06 PM.