Things went from bad to worse for the Hawks tonight against the Knicks when they were facing elimination in Game 6. They started the game extremely slow, and the frustrations were boiling right from the first quarter, where the Knicks took a 40-15 lead.
With less than five minutes left in the second quarter, the tensions boiled over into a scuffle between Mitchell Robinson and Dyson Daniels after the Hawks’ defensive forward elbowed the Knicks’ center in the chest and subsequently also held him and tried to persistently pursue a scuffle with him while the remaining team members and officials tried to hold them back.
Even an official, Brent Barnacky, fell to the floor as a result of a collision with the brawling players, and both individuals involved were eventually ejected from the game.
Fight breaks out between the Knicks and Hawks. Hawks are down 50 before halftime… pic.twitter.com/sGL18AJPak
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) May 1, 2026
The Knicks had a comfortable 71-22 lead at this time as they looked to cruise to a win. But this was a big loss to the Hawks as they needed their defensive maestro on the floor to stop the barraging offense from New York for Atlanta to have any hopes of making a comeback.
But unfortunately, the lead only further grew and consistently stayed at a 50-point margin at least until the end of the third quarter. NBA fans saw this incident on social media and expressed their feelings on the fight.
“I think it’s safe to say there is already an assault happening on the scoreboard, so might as well let them fight it out lol.”
“Basketball might not be for the Hawks anymore. Boxing fits their energy better.”
“Does the NBA have a Mercy Rule? 😂😂 Hawks need it ASAP… IceCold Trae would have never let it get this bad. 💯”
“That’s the best decision. This basketball, not UFC.”
“Being down 50 before the half does tend to have that kind of effect.”
Several such reactions flooded social media as the Knicks continued their barrage to close out the Hawks and avoid a Game 7 altogether. Dyson Daniels’ night ended with just three points and one steal (1-4 FG, 25.0 FG%). Meanwhile, Robinson had six points, three rebounds, and two blocks (3-3 FG, 100 FG%).
The Hawks threw in the towel and waved the white flag at the end of the third quarter as they sent in their bench players to finish the game. Even the Knicks called all their starters to the bench.
Truly an embarrassing manner for the Hawks to exit the playoffs like this, as the game ended 140-89 in the Knicks’ favor. They may argue that they went down fighting, but clearly, this fight was not a good look for Daniels and the rest of the team, especially since the Hawks were at home tonight and were initially the favorites to win.
