The biggest reaction to the Atlanta Hawks’ 109–108 Game 3 win over the New York Knicks did not come from the floor at State Farm Arena. It came from the NBA on Prime studio, where Taylor Rooks completely lost it after CJ McCollum’s game-winner. As McCollum delivered another clutch moment to give Atlanta a 2–1 series lead, cameras caught Rooks, a Georgia native, dropping her usual neutrality and celebrating like a die-hard Hawks fan.

While McCollum and the Hawks delivered on the court, Rooks stole the internet. As McCollum’s go-ahead jumper dropped and Atlanta took a 2–1 lead, a behind-the-scenes replay showed Rooks sprinting across the studio in pure celebration, a moment that quickly went viral across social media.

The clip, which racked up thousands of views within hours, showed Rooks in a red outfit silently screaming, pounding the desk, and jumping around the studio after the shot. She high-fived Dirk Nowitzki and Udonis Haslem, while someone in the studio joked that there was no need to guess which team she was rooting for.

When the Prime crew replayed her reaction in slow motion, Rooks had a slight defense. “Oh listen now, I’m unbiased but when in Gwinnett County, we up.”

That was a direct nod to her hometown of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and a reminder of how much the moment meant to her.

Rooks’ connection to Gwinnett County goes beyond basketball. Just a day before Game 3, her foundation partnered with Undue Medical Debt to erase over $2.1 million in medical debt for 1,805 people in her hometown. The initiative was deeply personal, inspired by watching her sister grow up with type 1 diabetes and the financial strain that came with it.

That connection made her reaction on Thursday night feel even more genuine.

The Hawks gave Taylor Rooks reason to celebrate

The final minute of Game 3 felt like playoff chaos at its best. After leading by as many as 18 points, the Hawks nearly let it slip away as Jalen Brunson completed a three-point play to give the Knicks a 108–105 lead with 1:03 remaining.

The tension inside State Farm Arena was building as New York looked ready to steal the game. But Jalen Johnson, who finished with a team-high 24 points, answered with a clutch layup to cut it to one. On the next possession, Josh Hart missed a wide-open three, and despite grabbing the rebound, the Knicks failed to get another shot up, committing a costly 24-second violation.

Back in the studio, Rooks was already on edge as the Hawks set up their final possession. With 16 seconds left, head coach Quin Snyder drew up a play to isolate CJ McCollum against Miles McBride.

McCollum delivered again. With Atlanta trailing by one, he knocked down a cold-blooded 15-foot fadeaway with 12.5 seconds remaining, sealing the 109–108 win and giving the Hawks a 2–1 series lead.

Knicks coach Mike Brown called his team “sloppy” after the game, pointing to their inability to take care of the ball late. And while the loss raises serious questions for New York, the energy on the other side was undeniable. Rooks’ reaction captured exactly what Hawks fans felt in that moment, pure chaos, relief, and belief that this series may have just turned.