After a hard-fought victory at Madison Square Garden in New York to even the series (1-1), the Atlanta Hawks are preparing for a Game 3 that promises to be even tougher. Hawks point guard Gabe Vincent, of Nigerian descent, reflected on the increasing aggression of this duel and the mindset of a locker room that refuses to back down. Asked about the very physical nature of the game, which at times resembled a wrestling match, he confirmed that the physicality now dictates the pace of the series: "We gave it our all. Every game is getting tougher. So Game 3 will definitely be more physical, more intense, and we're looking forward to it."

Tensions have risen a notch regarding the repeated falls of Knicks players to the ground during game 2.

When asked about the message conveyed in the locker room in response to what appeared to be an opposing strategy, Vincent was direct: "Keep going! Stay physical. I think there was, maybe or maybe not, a bit of theatrics, but hey, that's part of the game. That's what the NBA loves."

Beyond pure tactics, the point guard emphasized the human element of his team. With a strong presence of players from the continent like Mouhamed Gueye and Jonathan Kuminga, the Hawks draw their strength from their diversity. "There are so many languages spoken in this locker room. It's a very international team, the most cosmopolitan I've ever known. We rely on that, on each other. We love it. We enjoy talking about different cultures and sharing with each other, so it's fantastic."

Even immersed in the frenetic pace of the NBA playoffs, Vincent maintains a strong connection with the development of African basketball, particularly through the Basketball Africa League (BAL): "It's incredible to see basketball taking root like this... some friends have played in the BAL and loved the experience, so I'm eager to follow it, see how it evolves. It's great to see basketball developing everywhere."

For him, the 1-1 tie means the real battle is just beginning: "A playoff series starts when the away team wins, so it starts now. We're going home and we have to defend our court."