NBA Game 3: Hawks vs Knicks go hot as reserves and Towns fit to decide match

As series move go Atlanta, di Hawks don show say dem fit compete. After dem shock di Knicks for Game 2 with big fourth quarter comeback, di series now tied. Di Hawks go don want make home advantage count, as dem win 14 of last 15 regular-season games for State Farm Arena. But di Knicks no be pushover, dem win first five road games for last year playoffs by total of 10 points.

One key factor wey fit decide Game 3 na how each team reserves perform. For Game 1, Knicks win; for Game 2, Hawks win. Di big difference na how teams play with reserves on floor. Karl-Anthony Towns bin dey bench for almost all 11 minutes wey Jalen Brunson rest for Game 2. Dat time, Knicks score only 16 points for 23 offensive possessions. Knicks bench rank third dis season, but small sample size na wetin we get for playoffs. Coach Mike Brown fit choose to stagger im All-Stars minutes more for Game 3.

For Hawks, Jonathan Kuminga na X-factor. After quiet night for Game 1, di 23-year-old play almost 35 minutes for Game 2, score 19 points plus two steals and one block. Dem hold Knicks to just six points for nine clutch possessions when Kuminga dey on floor. With backup center Jock Landale out, Hawks fit be undersized for di five, but dem fit play bigger for other positions, especially as Knicks dey use three small guards off bench: Jordan Clarkson, Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado.

Knicks get one of best late-clock offenses for league, but dem struggle for dis series. Dem shoot only 12-for-46 (including 4-for-16 from three) for final seven seconds of shot clock through Game 2. Credit Hawks defense for some of dat struggle. Nickeil-Alexander Walker get timely stops against Brunson, and Hawks players dey disciplined when Brunson enter paint, contesting shots without fouling. Knicks need to play with more pace to avoid late-clock situations.

Knicks try get ball to Towns for post against Kuminga for one critical possession late for Game 2, but Kuminga deny entry pass. Onyeka Okongwu don defend Towns most, but sometimes Dyson Daniels dey match up with am, so Atlanta fit switch di Brunson-Towns pick-and-roll. Towns don take advantage of mismatches on glass, but according to tracking data, he get only four post-ups for two games, same as Brunson. Okongwu force am into tough shot for fourth quarter for Monday, but Towns’ other post-ups come against Kuminga (wey foul am) and Mouhamed Gueye. Against Gueye, he make short jump hook and miss short turnaround. We fit see Knicks dey quicker to give Towns ball for post when he match up with smaller defender for Game 3. If he take advantage of size inside, dat fit open things up elsewhere.