Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby lead way as Knicks demolish Hawks on eve of Jalen Brunsons likely return

ATLANTA — The Knicks are welcoming Jalen Brunson on a high. On likely the final day of Brunson’s long injury absence, the Knicks embarrassed the Hawks in Hotlanta 121-105 behind scorching 3-point shooting. The butt-whooping was administered early and often by the Knicks, who led by double digits in the first quarter and as many as 28 in the opening half. The Knicks knocked down 15 treys on 29 attempts, getting two conversions apiece from all five starters.Karl-Anthony Towns led all scorers with 30 points and 11 rebounds.

OG Anunoby continued his exquisite play with 24 points in 35 minutes.Josh Hart fell one rebound short of a triple-double with 16 points and 11 assists, though he may have been irked about being pulled in the final minute and darted to the locker room. The fourth quarter was just a long stroll to the finish. Trae Young, the enemy at MSG who taunted the Knicks early this season with a dice-roll celebration on the logo at center court, had just 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

Despite his reputation as a Knicks killer, Young fell to 7-17 all time in the regular season against New York.The Hawks (36-41), residing in the thick of the play-in race, should’ve been motivated but were nonetheless shellacked. The Knicks (49-28) are still firmly in the third position in the East.

Even if No.4 Indiana wins out, the Knicks will clinch No.

3 with two victories in their final five games. The Knicks also will have their captain back for most of them.Brunson, who missed 15 straight games, is scheduled to return from his ankle sprain Sunday against the Suns, the first time he’ll play in a month. With Anunoby exploding into the best basketball of his career, the Knicks went a very respectable 9-6 without Brunson — though they only beat one team above .500, the Bucks. Cam Payne returned from his own ankle sprain and struggled off the bench with two points 1-of-5 shooting, knocking rookie Tyler Kolek out of the rotation.

Delon Wright started his fi...