The New York Knicks didn’t just win Game 6 against the Atlanta Hawks—they made history. In a performance that will be talked about for years, the Knicks stormed into State Farm Arena and delivered a 140-89 blowout victory, closing out their first-round playoff series in style.

The game was effectively over by halftime. New York built an astonishing 47-point lead at the break, thanks to a jaw-dropping 67-13 run that left the Hawks scrambling. That halftime margin tied an NBA record, and the Knicks kept their foot on the gas in the second half to seal the 51-point win.

With that victory, New York joined an elite club. They became only the fourth team in NBA history to win an elimination game by 51 points or more. The others? The 1955/56 Minneapolis Lakers, the 2014/15 Chicago Bulls, and last season’s Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s rare company, and the Knicks earned every bit of it.

How did they do it? For starters, the Knicks shot the lights out. They connected on 59 percent of their field goals and 36 percent from beyond the arc. But it wasn’t just about shooting—they dominated the paint with a 66-38 advantage and turned defense into offense, racking up a 35-8 edge in fast-break points. The Hawks turned the ball over 19 times and shot just 38 percent from the field, unable to handle New York’s relentless pressure.

This was a statement win for a Knicks team that has shown flashes of brilliance all season. If they can bring this same intensity to the next round, they’ll be a tough out for whoever emerges from the Philadelphia 76ers-Boston Celtics series, which is heading to a decisive Game 7.

For Knicks fans, this is the kind of performance that fuels dreams of a deep playoff run. And for the rest of the league, it’s a warning: when New York is clicking, they can make history.