"You have to play until the clock hits zero!" McCollum channels Reggie Miller as Atlanta dramatically defeats the Knicks to tie the series

CJ McCollum was the man of the hour. He scored 32 points, hitting crucial shots when it mattered most, but almost threw it all away! With 5.6 seconds left, he missed both free throws, giving the Knicks a chance to snatch victory.

However, Mikal Bridges' shot at the buzzer didn't fall – and the visitors' celebration could finally begin.

"A game lasts a long time. You have to play until the clock hits zero," a cool-headed McCollum stated after the game.

New York had everything in their hands. They led throughout the entire second half, holding a 12-point advantage heading into the final quarter, but then they simply fizzled out. A statistic that stings every Knicks fan is truly incredible: since 1954, the New York team held a 40-1 playoff record when leading by 12 or more points at the end of the third quarter.

The only player to achieve this against them before McCollum was the legendary Reggie Miller way back in 1994. And on Monday night, Serbian time, Madison Square Garden found itself a new basketball executioner.

McCollum, it's worth remembering, arrived in Atlanta in January from Washington in a trade that saw long-time leader Trae Young depart the club.

Many had their doubts, but CJ proved he could fill those shoes, outplaying Jalen Brunson in key moments and stealing a victory that had already seemed destined for the home team.

Josh Hart didn't hide his disappointment after the painful loss:

"This was a game we absolutely had to win. In the playoffs, you can't just hand out victories like that," the Knicks player fumed.

The series now shifts to Atlanta, where the Hawks will host the Knicks for Game 3 on Thursday.

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