CJ

McCollum

Game 6 was tough for basically every Hawks player who saw meaningful minutes. McCollum, who played 24 minutes, shot inefficiently and also failed to make an impact as a passer. After a fast start to the series, he totaled only 34 points and four assists over the final three games, which were all loses. He’ll enter the offseason as a free agent. Should the veteran return to the Hawks next season, he’ll likely have some fantasy value.

While McCollum once again led the Hawks in scoring, the Knicks did a much better job of defending him in Game 4. The veteran guard missed all four of his three-point attempts, and the Hawks were 10-of-41 as a team. And with the Knicks playing far better than they did in Game 3, this was the recipe for a 16-point New York victory. McCollum and the Hawks will look to regain home-court advantage with a win on Tuesday in New York.

McCollum came up big in the clutch for Atlanta on Thursday. Trailing by one point with under 20.0 seconds remaining, the veteran combo guard broke free on an inbounds play, possessed the ball, and calmly dribbled right into a mid-range pull-up jumper, which ended up being the go-ahead bucket. The final basket was only his second after halftime. Nonetheless, McCollum finished with at least 20 points for the third time this series. He’ll have a chance to extend his streak to four games and help Atlanta take a 3-1 series lead on Saturday.

McCollum and the Hawks appeared headed for a 0-2 deficit, but an elite fourth quarter on both ends of the floor shifted the series momentum to Atlanta. While he did miss two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining that would have extended the Hawks’ lead to three, McCollum was outstanding throughout Game 2. Productive enough to keep the visitors within striking distance during the third quarter, McCollum was the main reason why the Hawks walked down the Knicks in the fourth. Game 3 is on Thursday in Atlanta.

After scoring 29 points in his final appearance of the regular season, McCollum got his 2026 postseason off to a good start with another efficient effort on Saturday. The veteran guard shot 55 percent from the field overall and 4-of-9 from three-point range. However, McCollum will need to clean up the turnovers, as he was responsible for five. The Hawks will look to even the series at one game apiece when they visit the Knicks again on Monday.

The Hawks are sitting their entire starting five for Sunday’s game, as they’ll be seeded fifth or sixth in the Eastern Conference playoffs that begin next weekend. On the perimeter, players like Zaccharie Risacher, Corey Kispert and Keaton Wallce should play plenty on Sunday.

Johnson and McCollum may sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale, as the Hawks can finish no worse than sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, even with a loss. If available, Jonathan Kuminga is one player who may take on a heavier workload on Sunday, which makes him an intriguing option in active fantasy leagues.

McCollum led Atlanta in scoring, though he did most of his work before the break. 25 of his 29 points came before halftime, which helped the Hawks take a 61-48 lead. They broke the game open in the third, which limited McCollum’s minutes for the rest of the game. This was his third-highest scoring game since he was traded to Atlanta, and it was enough to help them clinch a playoff spot. Now, they’ll need to win the regular season finale against the Heat to clinch the fifth seed in the East. Regardless, McCollum has been a strong addition, and he’ll be a pivotal piece for the Hawks in the postseason.

McCollum nearly helped Atlanta make an insane comeback in the final seconds. They trailed by four with five seconds left, and McCollum knocked down a triple to make it a one-point game. Jalen Brunson hit two free throws, and then McCollum banked in a shot from half court, except it was still on his fingertips. Atlanta lost, but McCollum still posted a strong line, which included four stocks. He has had unexpected success as the replacement for Trae Young, which has helped the Hawks be one of the best teams in the league since the All-Star break.

After totaling 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting in games against the Celtics and Magic, McCollum may have been thrilled to see the lottery-bound Nets. The veteran guard shot 66.7 percent from the field on Friday, and he was also responsible for seven assists. For those whose fantasy leagues run through Week 24, the Hawks play four games, starting with the Knicks on Monday.