Hawks' CJ McCollum nearly sends Knicks game to OT with Hail Mary

McCollum's fullcourt shot at the buzzer did not count, as the Knicks held on for a 108-105 win.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:12am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the final seconds of the Hawks-Knicks game, with the basketball and players broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the intensity and drama of the game-tying shot that did not count.The Hawks' last-second shot that would have sent the game to overtime slipped just out of reach, leaving the Knicks to hold on for the narrow victory.NYC Today

In a close game between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, Hawks guard CJ McCollum hit a miraculous fullcourt shot at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime. However, the shot did not count, and the Knicks held on for a 108-105 victory.

Why it matters

The Hawks have been a surprise team in the Eastern Conference this season, emerging as a potential dark-horse playoff contender. This close loss to the Knicks, a likely first-round playoff opponent, shows the Hawks' ability to compete with the top teams in the East.

The details

With the Knicks leading by 3 points and only 1.2 seconds left, the Hawks had to inbound the ball from the backcourt. CJ McCollum caught the pass, took a few dribbles, and then launched a Hail Mary shot from three-quarters court that banked in at the buzzer. However, the shot did not count, and the Knicks held on for the 108-105 victory.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • The game-tying shot by CJ McCollum came with 1.2 seconds left in the game.

The players

CJ McCollum

A guard for the Atlanta Hawks who hit a miraculous fullcourt shot at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime.

Jalen Brunson

A guard for the New York Knicks who scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Knicks to victory.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

A forward for the Atlanta Hawks who scored 36 points in the losing effort.

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What’s next

The Hawks and Knicks could potentially meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs, depending on how the final few games of the regular season unfold.

The takeaway

The Hawks have emerged as a dark-horse contender in the Eastern Conference, and this close loss to the Knicks shows that they will be a tough out in the playoffs. The integration of CJ McCollum has given the Hawks a needed perimeter scorer, while players like Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have stepped up on both ends of the floor.