Knicks' 47-point halftime lead vs. Hawks sets record for largest in NBA playoff history

The Atlanta Hawks arrived for a must-win Game 6 against the New York Knicks on Thursday in their home State Farm Arena. They ran out to a 9-5 lead through about three minutes of play.That was the last shred of competitiveness in the game.The Knicks blitzed the Hawks off the opening tip, racing to an 83-36 halftime lead. The 47-point halftime margin is the largest in NBA playoff history, breaking the record of 41 points shared by the Indiana Pacers in 2025 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. It approached the largest halftime lead in any NBA regular-season or playoff game (50 points).The Knicks went on to win 140-89 to close out their first-round series. They led by as many as 61.Advertisement