The Atlanta Hawks staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the New York Knicks 108-100, advancing to the NBA Cup semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks. For the first half, the Knicks controlled the game, leading 54-47 at halftime and expanding their lead to 62-52 early in the third quarter.
However, the Hawks transformed into a different team for most of the second half, outscoring the Knicks 34-18 in the third quarter. Trae Young led the charge with 22 points, including 12 in the third quarter, as well as 11 assists and five rebounds. Young’s performance echoed his effort from the 2021 playoffs against the Knicks.
The Hawks took a nine-point deficit to 93-87 midway through the fourth quarter, but held strong to secure an eight-point victory. As the final seconds ticked off, Young rolled mock dice on the Knicks logo, delivering a clear message: the Hawks are going to Las Vegas, and the Knicks are not.
Atlanta’s dominant rebounding effort, including a 58-49 margin with 22 offensive rebounds, was key to their success. Fourth-year breakout forward Jalen Johnson made several big plays on both ends of the court, while De’Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu added crucial contributions from the bench.
The Hawks have now won seven of their last eight games and are looking to make a push in the Eastern Conference pecking order. They will face the Bucks on Saturday in Las Vegas, while the Knicks have been eliminated from the NBA Cup and will next play the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-cup-trae-young-trolls-knicks-with-logo-dice-roll-as-hawks-storm-for-comeback-win-into-semifinals-023017301.html