CJ McCollum was mere milliseconds away Monday from highlight reel immortality.
The Atlanta Hawks trailed the New York Knicks 108-105 with 1.2 seconds left on the clock at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. With no timeouts remaining following a pair of Jalen Brunson free throws, the Hawks had to create some magic 94 feet away from their own basket.
McCollum did his best David Blaine impression with an off-balance 60-foot heave that banked in seemingly right at the buzzer.
CJ MCCOLLUM FOR THE TIE 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/AQTodyEb8t
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) April 7, 2026
Unfortunately for McCollum and every Hawks fan in the building, the ball was still touching CJ’s fingertips as the clock expired. You can watch the slow-motion replay below.
CJ MCCOLLUM FROM HALF COURT
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 7, 2026
Refs say the shot was late and the Hawks lose pic.twitter.com/KEOpuwnC0s
The moment McCollum took two dribbles before getting a shot off made it nearly impossible for him to get the ball out of his hands in time. The fact that it was even close was a testament to how quickly the veteran guard released the ball after his second dribble.
McCollum finished with 17 points in the 108-105 loss. While CJ didn’t get the Hawks an extra period on Monday, he’s still been a godsend for the team ever since he arrived in Atlanta in the Trae Young deal. The Hawks have gone 18-3 since McCollum became a permanent fixture in the team’s starting lineup.
