Trae Young delivered a career-best 22 assists and added 20 points as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 135-124 on Thursday night. The loss marked Cleveland’s second of the season, snapping a perfect 11-0 home record.
De’Andre Hunter contributed 26 points, while Jalen Johnson scored 22 for the Hawks, who ended their three-game skid with an impressive road victory. Rookie Zaccharie Risacher added 17 points, including a third-quarter scoring spree that helped shift momentum.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 30 points, and Evan Mobley tallied 22 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks.
The Cavaliers, aiming for an 18-1 start, were unable to maintain a 19-point first-half lead, exposing cracks in their otherwise dominant home performance.
Young struggled from the field, shooting 6-of-18, but his playmaking prowess fueled Atlanta’s offense.
Cleveland’s defense faltered as Atlanta shot 47.4% from the field and an impressive 47.6% from beyond the arc. The Hawks’ bench added 62 points, with Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kobe Bufkin combining for 26.
The Cavaliers showcased balanced scoring but were plagued by lapses on both ends. Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang contributed eight points each, while Jarrett Allen chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds.
However, Cleveland’s reliance on perimeter shooting proved costly as they converted just 31.3% from three-point range.
Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, the NBA’s steals leader, added 12 points and 10 rebounds, solidifying the Hawks’ defensive effort. Despite committing 13 turnovers, Atlanta’s ball movement led to 39 assists, a season-high for the team.
Cleveland’s Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill provided a spark off the bench, combining for 18 points, but their contributions were not enough to overcome Atlanta’s dominance late in the game. The Cavaliers’ reserves struggled to match the Hawks’ depth, a factor in the loss.
With this win, Atlanta improved to 8-11, showing resilience after a rocky start to the season. Cleveland, now 17-2, faces questions about maintaining their early success against strong opponents.
