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Trae Young's Hawks Rally Past Knicks 108-100 After Third-Quarter Surge to Reach NBA Cup Semis

Dec 12, 2024, 02:30 AM

The Atlanta Hawks defeated the New York Knicks 108-100 in the NBA Cup quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden, securing their spot in the semifinals in Las Vegas against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite the Knicks leading 54-47 at halftime, the Hawks outscored them 34-18 in the third quarter, including a decisive 27-8 run that turned the game in their favor. Trae Young led the Hawks with 22 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds, and celebrated the victory by mimicking rolling dice on the Knicks logo, acknowledging their upcoming trip to Las Vegas. Young commented on his relationship with Knicks fans, saying, "It's a love-hate relationship. I got a lot of love and a lot of hate I guess from them, but I got a lot of love from them too. It's respect." Jalen Johnson contributed significantly with 21 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. De'Andre Hunter added 24 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range. For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns had a standout performance with 19 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, marking a historic first-half stat line. Despite Towns' efforts, including the potential for a rare 5x5 game, the Knicks could not maintain their lead. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson remarked on Young's celebration, stating, "We should win the game if we don't want him to do that."