Knicks collapse in stunning Game 2 loss to let Hawks even series

CJ McCollum is in his villain era, and it helped stun the Madison Square Garden crowd in the Knicks’ heartbreaking loss to the Hawks in Game 2.

McCollum hit the go-ahead shot with 33.5 seconds left in the game to put the Hawks ahead by two in what would become an eventual 107-106 loss.

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drives to the basket between Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye and Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (r.) during the third quarter.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Jalen Johnson’s dunk put Atlanta up 107-103, but Jalen Brunson hit a 3-pointer with 8.5 left in the game to pull the Knicks within one.

The Knicks had let their lead slip away after being outscored 28-15 in the final quarter of the game.

The Knicks and Hawks will now head to Atlanta for Game 3 on Thursday with the Hawks feeling revitalized after the win and the series even at 1-1

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels #5 goes up for a shot as New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby #8 jumps to defend during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post