The atmosphere was electric at Madison Square Garden, but the Atlanta Hawks broke the hearts of many New Yorkers in Game 2 of the first round of the NBA playoffs. In a nail-biting thriller, Atlanta snatched a one-point victory, 107-106, tying the series (1-1) after a battle of rare physical intensity where bodies went down and nerves were on edge.

This victory bears the mark of CJ McCollum's composure. A true leader, the veteran point guard spearheaded the Hawks' offense with an exceptional 32-point performance. Using the MSG crowd's jeering chants as a source of extreme motivation, he stabilized the team with his tempo control and clutch baskets as the Garden crowd roared for the knockout blow. His composure was the foundation upon which Atlanta built its incredible comeback.

Right after this hard-fought victory, power forward Onyeka Okongwu, who had a solid game with 15 points and 8 rebounds, as well as a crucial defensive presence, spoke exclusively to us. Proud of his teammates' resilience, he savored this hard-fought win: "I'm proud of my guys. We were down in the fourth quarter, but we stayed in it, knowing it's a 48-minute game. We stayed solid and we won the game tonight."

In this arena where Knicks players took numerous falls due to the physical impact, Okongwu appreciated the roughness of the contest: "It was cool. The referees call a lot of things, let others go. That's what the NBA loves, the playoffs are like that. It's playoff basketball, and we're here for that."

This game highlighted the strength of Atlanta's "African Connection." Congolese player Jonathan Kuminga delivered a superb performance with 19 points and 4 rebounds, the team's second-highest total, confirming his crucial importance to Atlanta's rotation. Alongside Senegalese player Mouhamed Gueye, Okongwu embraced his role as a standard-bearer for the diaspora: "We have many Africans here. I'm Nigerian, JK (Kuminga), Mo (Gueye), Gabe (Vincent), even some of the coaches. We remain true to our African traditions, and I always want to represent my country."

Although the Hawks player has not yet been able to follow the Basketball Africa League (BAL), his heart remains with the continent: "I want to do more things in Africa one day."

As the series moves to Georgia, the Hawks have no intention of getting distracted. The message in the locker room is clear: "We're going back to Atlanta, we're taking care of our business."

For Okongwu, the priority is already Game 3: "Take care of my body, ignore the noise, and be ready for the Knicks Thursday night in Atlanta."

With this victory achieved after a nail-biting finish, this Eastern Conference series is completely revived.