ATLANTA – The Knicks and Jalen Brunson failed again when it mattered most.

The Knicks ended a long road trip in disappointment, falling 20-2 in the finale by 10 points and falling to the Hawks 121-116 on Wednesday at State Farm Arena.

Brunson, who was removed from his role at the end of Monday's loss to the Rockets, was again part of the collapse. He only managed four points in the fourth quarter and was unable to counter a strong finish from Trae Young.

The Knicks captain finished the game with just 21 points on 8 of 18 shooting, three turnovers and just four assists

“Like shit,” Brunson said when asked to rate his game. “Because I have my own expectations and I haven’t met them.”

It was a close game throughout and then ended sloppily as the struggling Knicks (3-4) completed a road trip 2-2.

With three minutes left, they were ahead by five points after a three-pointer from Karl-Anthony Towns, their largest lead of the second half.

They then missed on two straight possessions before Brunson hit one of two free throws to give the Knicks a one-point lead with 80 seconds left.

With the Knicks (3-4) trailing on what was probably the game's most important possession, Brunson had a potential 3-pointer when he faced Atlanta's Clint Capela in isolation.

But he hesitated and shot the ball into the corner, where Towns contested a three-pointer, but his shot bounced off the outside edge.

Atlanta (4-5) grabbed the rebound, dove in transition and never looked back.

Brunson said he would have made the same play if he had played again.

“They were all full of me,” Brunson said. “And KAT has a higher release point where no one can really challenge his shot. I thought it was a good shot. The ball hit the rim at a certain angle and off we went.”

Young, who finished with 23 points, rediscovered his role as the Knicks' nemesis, stepping to the microphone immediately after the game and declaring, “I hope these New York fans find their way to the exits very, very quickly.”

After winning their first two games of the trip – including an impressive finish over the Heat – the Knicks return to the Garden on Friday to face the Bucks with a two-game losing streak behind them.

“We just have to get better. Sixth game (of the season). I had a good game in Miami and after that it was kind of a disappointment,” said Mikal Bridges, who faded with just 10 points in 38 minutes in Atlanta. “I think we were too excited. We just have to build on these games. Of course it's a shame to learn from losses, but that's exactly what we have to do.

“It's difficult. It starts hot and doesn't end the way we wanted. But just learn from it.”

Brunson was locked down by defensive specialist Dyson Daniels, a slender guard who leads the NBA in deflections due to his speed and 6-foot-3 frame.

Brunson's first half was a battle bus ride with three turnovers, zero assists and eight points on 3 of 8 shooting.

“He competes,” Brunson said of Daniels. “You have to give him credit. He did really well.”

Despite Brunson's struggles, the ball moved a little better on Wednesday than it did in Houston.

But the defense and rebounding deteriorated.

The Hawks grabbed 16 offensive boards, while the Knicks grabbed seven.

Atlanta made 15 treys and shot 45 percent overall.

Young finished the game with 23 points and 10 assists.

Rookie Zaccharie Risacher tied his career high with 33 points.

“At the end of a long road trip, we came away sluggish,” Josh Hart said. “We let them act offensively, so to speak. Kind of like they wanted, and then we weren't good offensively. I think we had 15 turnovers that day or whatever. We have to find a way. Houston, in the end it was a winnable game. This game is obviously very winnable in the end. We have to be able to beat teams at the end of close games.”

The Hawks are stuck between rebuilding and pursuing the playoffs.

They have Young, 26, who is in the middle of a max contract extension.

They also start Risacher, a 19-year-old freshman and first overall pick who dropped 22 points in the first half on Wednesday.

They traded Dejounte Murray for Daniels and conversions.

On Wednesday they were missing two of their top players, Bogdan Bogdanovic and DeAndre Hunter, both of whom were injured.

But the Knicks failed to capitalize on it and better hope these are just growing pains.