The Atlanta Hawks secured a crucial 2-1 series lead over the New York Knicks in their Eastern Conference playoff clash, winning a nail-biting Game 3 with a final score of 109-108. CJ McCollum's clutch fadeaway with 12.7 seconds left sealed the victory for the Hawks after a fierce Knicks comeback. Jalen Johnson added 24 points for Atlanta.
In other playoff action, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-104, with Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett scoring 33 points each to cut their series deficit to 2-1. The Minnesota Timberwolves also took a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference series, beating the Denver Nuggets 113-96, led by Jaden McDaniels' defensive effort and Ayo Dosunmu's 25 points.
