Trae Young Trolling Knicks Sparks Hawks’ Comeback Win in NBA Cup
The Atlanta Hawks rallied to defeat the New York Knicks 108-100, with Trae Young’s antics sealing the victory and a spot in the semifinals.
Atlanta, New York, NBA Cup, Trae Young, Hawks, Knicks
Atlanta: The Knicks were looking strong for a half on Wednesday night. They had the game under control against the Hawks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
But then, the Hawks flipped the script in the third quarter, storming back to win 108-100. Now, they’re headed to the semifinals to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Knicks started off hot, leading 28-22 after the first quarter and extending it to 54-47 by halftime. They even pushed their lead to 62-52 early in the third. But the Hawks came alive, and Trae Young hit a big three-pointer to give them their first lead at 68-66.
From that point on, the Knicks were playing catch-up. The Hawks dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks 34-18, and even held off a late push from New York to secure the win.
Young was a key player, scoring 12 of his 22 points in that explosive third quarter. He also dished out 11 assists and grabbed five rebounds, reminding everyone of his playoff magic from 2021 against the Knicks.
Even when the Knicks cut the lead to just six points in the fourth, the Hawks didn’t buckle. They answered back and sealed the game with an eight-point victory.
As the clock wound down, Young rolled some mock dice on the Knicks logo, sending a clear message: the Hawks are heading to Las Vegas, while the Knicks are going home.
The Hawks really took control after halftime, especially on the boards, finishing with a 58-49 rebounding edge, including 22 offensive rebounds. It wasn’t just Young, either; Jalen Johnson had a standout game with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
De’Andre Hunter also shined off the bench, scoring 24 points and hitting 4-of-5 from three-point range. Onyeka Okongwu contributed with a double-double, showing the depth of this young Atlanta team.
Despite a shaky start to the season, the Hawks have found their rhythm, winning seven of their last eight games. They really stepped up in a tough environment at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks had a solid offensive showing, with all five starters scoring in double figures. Josh Hart led with 21 points, but Jalen Brunson struggled, shooting just 5-of-15.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a strong game with 19 points and 19 rebounds but fouled out late. The Knicks just couldn’t match the Hawks’ intensity on the boards.
Now, the Hawks are set to face the Bucks on Saturday, while the Knicks will look to regroup against the Orlando Magic on Sunday.