The Atlanta Hawks (14-12) defeated the New York Knicks (15-10) 108-100 on Wednesday night, securing their place in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. De’Andre Hunter, Trae Young, and Jalen Johnson led Atlanta’s charge, overcoming an early deficit to send the Knicks packing.
Hunter scored 24 points, while Johnson contributed a stellar 21-point, 15-rebound performance alongside seven assists. Young added 22 points and 11 assists.
The Knicks jumped to a 12-point lead early, powered by Josh Hart’s 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ dominant 19-point, 19-rebound outing. However, Atlanta surged ahead in the third quarter, fueled by an 11-0 run led by Young and Hunter.
Young scored eight straight points, including a 31-foot three-pointer, to shift momentum, while Hunter’s three-pointer capped the run, giving Atlanta a lead they never relinquished. The Hawks outscored the Knicks 61-46 in the second half, emphasizing their resilience.
Johnson’s all-around performance was pivotal as Atlanta battled one of the league’s deepest rosters. The second-year forward’s effort on both ends of the floor solidified his role as a cornerstone of the Hawks’ young core.
The Knicks, who entered the game as one of the tournament favorites after an undefeated group stage, struggled to maintain consistency. Their second-half collapse highlighted their inability to contain Atlanta’s fast-paced offense.
Atlanta’s NBA Cup run has been a surprise, featuring wins over the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in the group stage. They now face the Milwaukee Bucks, the Eastern Conference’s top seed, in Saturday’s semifinal.
