CJ McCollum hit the game-winner with 12.5 seconds remaining as the Atlanta Hawks pulled off another nail-biting victory over New York to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA first-round playoff series on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Hawks beat the Knicks 109-108 in Atlanta, their second straight one-point triumph giving them the advantage in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Toronto Raptors also thrived at home, pulling away late in a 126-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers that cut the deficit in their series to 2-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Hawks produced a fine collective effort, especially on the defensive end, to thwart the third-seeded Knicks' comeback bid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With plenty of time after McCollum's go-ahead basket, the Knicks were unable to get a shot off as the Hawks pressured Jalen Brunson into a poor pass intended for Josh Hart and Jonathan Kuminga lunged in for a game-clinching steal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Picture perfect," McCollum said of the defensive display in the waning seconds. "When it was time to get a stop our guys dug deep and they did what it takes to win in these types of environments."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jalen Johnson scored 24 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out eight assists for the Hawks. McCollum added 23 points and Kuminga scored 21 off the bench.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Hawks had led by as many as 18 in the first half but the Knicks took a 108-105 lead on a three-point play by Brunson, who was fouled by McCollum on a drive to the basket and converted the free throw with 1:03 to play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Johnson pulled the Hawks back within one with a putback layup and, after misses by Hart and Brunson, McCollum came through.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I got to a spot and did what I had to do to get this win," McCollum said, but he was still irked with himself for fouling Brunson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
McCollum said: "I've got to be better."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
OG Anunoby scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Knicks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brunson scored 26 points and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 21 points with 17 rebounds for New York, who will try to turn the tables in game four in Atlanta on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Toronto, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett scored 33 points apiece, and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles added 22 off the bench for the Raptors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Barnes handed out 11 assists and the Raptors, who took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter, stormed home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They connected on eight of nine three-point attempts in the final frame, out-scoring the Cavaliers 43-23.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We knew we needed one," said Barnes after the Raptors avoided falling behind 0-3 -- a deficit no NBA team has come back from to win a playoff series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n