At Madison Square Garden on Friday night, Jalen Johnson once again operated as the central engine for the Atlanta Hawks, compiling his seventh triple-double of the season with 18 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds to pilot a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks.

While Johnson set the table, his teammates feasted. Nickeil Alexander-Walker poured in a team-high 23 points, while Onyeka Okongwu added 22. Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard each chipped in 12 points to provide balanced scoring for an Atlanta squad finding its rhythm.

The Knicks, despite a quick 11-2 start to the game, saw their control slip away. After trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never looked back. Atlanta built a commanding 60-45 lead late in the second quarter and then delivered a decisive blow in the third, with Alexander-Walker's driving layup pushing the advantage to a game-high 94-68.

Jalen Brunson fought to keep New York afloat, leading all scorers with 24 points. OG Anunoby contributed a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points. With Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined by illness, Ariel Hukporti stepped into the starting lineup and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in a silver-lining performance for the home team.

New York mounted a valiant fourth-quarter push, scoring the period's first 11 points to cut the deficit to 94-81. Luke Kennard promptly silenced the building with back-to-back three-pointers to halt the run. The Knicks made one final charge, as consecutive threes from Bridges brought them within 108-99, but they would draw no closer.

This win holds significant weight for the Hawks, marking their second consecutive victory after weathering a season-high, seven-game losing skid. Defensively, they achieved a notable feat by becoming the first team this season to hold the high-powered Knicks offense under 100 points.

Both teams were navigating notable absences. Atlanta's Trae Young missed his third straight game with a bruised right quadriceps, while Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was out for a third game for left ankle injury management.

The schedule offers a quick turnaround for both clubs. The Hawks travel north to face the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, while the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden to host the Philadelphia 76ers.