- The Atlanta Hawks advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals with a 108-100 victory over the New York Knicks, led by Trae Young’s 22 points and 11 assists
- De’Andre Hunter scored 24 points off the bench, marking his eighth consecutive game with 18+ points, while Jalen Johnson had a impressive performance with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists
- The Hawks outscored the Knicks 61-46 in the second half to secure their win and semifinal spot
- Atlanta will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas, while the Knicks will play in Orlando on Sunday
- The Hawks have been a surprise team in the tournament, defeating the defending champions Boston Celtics and the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in the group stage
Key Takeaways:
The Atlanta Hawks continued their impressive run in the NBA Cup, advancing to the semifinals with a 108-100 victory over the New York Knicks. Trae Young led the team with 22 points and 11 assists, while De’Andre Hunter contributed 24 points off the bench, marking his eighth consecutive game with 18+ points. Jalen Johnson also had a standout performance, scoring 21 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists.
Hawks ELIMINATE KNICKS from the NBA Cup 😱
Trae: 22 PTS, 11 AST, 5 REB
JJ: 21 PTS, 15 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK
Hunter: 21 PTS, 8-15 FG, 4-5 3PTThey take on Milwaukee in Vegas for the semifinals 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ci00kBk2qD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 12, 2024
The Hawks’ second-half performance was key to their win, as they outscored the Knicks 61-46 to overcome a 12-point deficit at one point. This victory sets up a semifinal matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday in Las Vegas, and the Hawks will look to continue their surprise run in the tournament. The team has already defeated the defending champions Boston Celtics and the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in the group stage, and they will face another tough test against the Bucks.
The Knicks, on the other hand, were led by Josh Hart’s 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ double-double with 19 points and 19 rebounds. However, they were unable to hold on to their lead and ultimately fell short against the Hawks. The loss is a disappointing end to the Knicks’ tournament run, but they will look to regroup and refocus for their next game in Orlando on Sunday. For the Hawks, the win is a significant milestone, and they will look to ride their momentum into the semifinals against the Bucks.