NBA Cup: Trae Younger trolls Knicks with imprint cube roll as Hawks storm for comeback safe into semifinals
For a half of on Wednesday, the Contemporary York Knicks were in stout back watch over of their NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Atlanta Hawks.
However Atlanta stormed back with a third-quarter outburst en path to a 108-100 safe to reach to a semifinal matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Knicks opened a 28-22 lead after one quarter of play that they prolonged to 54-47 at halftime. The lead swelled to 62-52 early within the third quarter. However the Hawks looked enjoy a chase team for various the 2nd half of and took their first lead of the game at 68-66 on a Trae Younger raise-and-shoot 3.
The Knicks by no manner led again. The Hawks outscored the Knicks, 34-18 within the third quarter and fought back a fourth-quarter Knicks urge to silence a frantic Madison Square Backyard crowd.
Younger scored 12 of his 22 functions within the third quarter in a performance that echoed his effort within the 2021 playoffs in a first-round defeat of the Knicks. He added 11 assists and five rebounds.
The Knicks decrease a nine-point deficit to 93-87 halfway throughout the fourth quarter. However the Hawks withstood the urge and punched back to precise the eight-point victory.
As the closing seconds ticked off the clock, Younger rolled mock cube on the Knicks imprint, delivering a transparent message. The Hawks are going to Las Vegas. The Knicks are no longer.
How the Hawks won
The Hawks managed the ball after halftime with a dominant effort on the offensive glass. They carried out the game with a 58-49 rebounding margin that incorporated 22 offensive rebounds.
This modified into no longer a one-man point out for Atlanta. Fourth-365 days breakout forward Jalen Johnson many cases made colossal performs on both facets of the court en path to 21 functions, 15 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.
De’Andre Hunter added 24 functions off the bench while hitting 4-of-5 photographs from long distance. Onyeka Okongwu double-doubled with 12 functions, 11 rebounds and two blocks off the bench. Or no longer it is the set up of effort Atlanta’s searching for from a younger roster that’s taking a to find out about to works its manner up within the Jap Conference pecking expose.
Or no longer it is no longer the set up of game the Hawks non-public produced consistently this season in a 14-12 originate up. However they stepped up on a colossal stage in entrance of a adverse crowd in a playoff-enjoy atmosphere Wednesday. The’ve now won seven of their final eight video games on their manner to the NBA Cup semifinals.
The Knicks bought a balanced effort on offense with all five starters scoring in double figures, led by 21 functions from Josh Hart. However Jalen Brunson struggled from the enviornment on a 5-of-15 taking pictures effort that netted 14 functions and eight assists.
Karl-Anthony Cities tallied 19 functions, a season-excessive 19 rebounds and three blocks. However he played principal of the 2nd half of in unhealthy anxiety earlier than fouling out within the game’s closing minute. No assorted Knicks participant carried out with double figures in rebounds, while the Hawks had three avid gamers with 11 or more.
The Hawks will face the Bucks on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Knicks are eradicated from the NBA Cup and would possibly subsequent play the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
