On Wednesday, the New York Knicks had half of the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup against the Atlanta Hawks.
But Atlanta stormed back with a third-quarter explosion en route to a 108-100 victory to advance to a semifinal matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Knicks opened up a 28-22 lead after one quarter, which they extended to 54-47 at halftime. At the beginning of the third quarter, the lead increased to 62:52. But the Hawks looked like a different team for most of the second half, taking their first lead of the game at 68-66 on a Trae Young catch-and-shoot 3.
The Knicks never led again. The Hawks outscored the Knicks, 34-18 in the third quarter and held off a fourth quarter Knicks run to silence a frenzied crowd at Madison Square Garden.
Young scored 12 of his 22 points in the third quarter in a performance that mirrored his 2021 playoff effort in a first-round defeat of the Knicks. He also added 11 assists and five rebounds.
The Knicks cut a nine-point deficit to 93-87 midway through the fourth quarter. However, the Hawks withstood the onslaught and secured an eight-point victory. As the final seconds ticked away, Young threw fake dice at the Knicks logo, sending a clear message. The Hawks are headed to Las Vegas. The Knicks are not.
How the Hawks won
The Hawks controlled the ball after halftime with a dominant effort on the offensive glass. They finished the game with a 58-49 rebounding margin that included 22 offensive rebounds.
This was not a one man show for Atlanta. Fourth-year forward Jalen Johnson repeatedly made big plays on both ends of the court en route to 21 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.
De’Andre Hunter added 24 points off the bench, hitting 4 of 5 shots from long range. Onyeka Okongwu had a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks off the bench. It’s the type of effort Atlanta is looking for from a young roster trying to make a splash in the Eastern Conference.
It’s not the type of play the Hawks have produced consistently this season with a 14-12 start. But on Wednesday, they took the big stage in front of a hostile crowd in a playoff-like atmosphere. They won seven of their last eight games en route to the NBA Cup semifinals.
The Knicks were balanced offensively, with all five starters scoring in double figures, led by Josh Hart’s 21 points. But Jalen Brunson struggled from the field on 5-of-15 shooting for 14 points and eight assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and three blocks. But he played much of the second half in foul trouble before fouling out in the game’s final minute. No other Knicks player finished in double figures in rebounds, while the Hawks had three players with 11 or more.
The Hawks will face the Bucks on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Knicks are out of the NBA Cup and will next play against the Orlando Magic on Sunday.