The Atlanta Hawks continued their improbable NBA Cup run, defeating the New York Knicks 108-100 on Wednesday night to secure a spot in the semifinals in Las Vegas. Trae Young led the way with 22 points and 11 assists, while De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson outshone the Knicks’ frontcourt in a game that saw Atlanta storm back from a double-digit deficit.
Hunter delivered a team-high 24 points, and Johnson contributed a stellar all-around performance with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists. The Hawks entered the tournament as underdogs, having already defeated the defending champion Boston Celtics and NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in group play. They will now face the Milwaukee Bucks, the top seed in the East, on Saturday for a chance to play in the final.
The Knicks, one of the tournament favorites after going 4-0 in group play, jumped out to a 12-point lead early and seemed poised to advance. Josh Hart scored 21 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns had an impressive 19 points and 19 rebounds. However, Atlanta’s resilience and strong second-half performance flipped the script.
Trailing 66-62 midway through the third quarter, Young sparked an 11-0 run with eight straight points, including back-to-back deep 3-pointers punctuated by his signature celebration on the Madison Square Garden floor. Hunter capped the surge with a 3-pointer, giving Atlanta its first lead at 73-66 and silencing the New York crowd.
In the second half, the Hawks dominated, outscoring the Knicks 61-46. Atlanta’s young core stepped up on both ends of the floor, maintaining composure and seizing key moments. As the Knicks fell to 0-2 against Atlanta this season, their poor second-half showing was a stark contrast to their dominant group-stage performance. Let’s grade the players for their performances tonight.Â
Karl-Anthony Towns: A-
Stats:Â 19 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks, 4 turnovers, 6 fouls, 7-15 FG, 2-6 3PT FG, 3-6 FT, -11 +/-, 37 mins
Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a massive double-double with 19 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, and impressive defensive stats, including three steals and three blocks. However, his six fouls and four turnovers, combined with a -11 +/- rating, slightly detracted from an otherwise strong performance.
Josh Hart: B+
Stats: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 8-12 FG, 3-5 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, -2 +/-, 34 mins
Josh Hart was one of the Knicks’ most efficient players, scoring 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep. He contributed across the board with eight rebounds, six assists, and solid defense, but his impact waned during Atlanta’s second-half comeback.
Mikal Bridges: B-
Stats: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 9-17 FG, 1-5 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -17 +/-, 38 mins
Mikal Bridges contributed 19 points on 9-of-17 shooting but struggled from three-point range, hitting just 1-of-5. While he had some defensive moments, his -17 +/- rating underscored his limited influence in key stretches.
Jalen Brunson: C+
Stats:Â 14 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 0 fouls, 5-15 FG, 2-6 3PT FG, 2-3 FT, +0 +/-, 36 mins
Jalen Brunson managed 14 points and eight assists but struggled with his shot, going 5-of-15 from the field. His inability to take over offensively when the Knicks needed a spark was a significant factor in the loss.
OG Anunoby: C+
Stats: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-17 FG, 1-9 3PT FG, 2-4 FT, -2 +/-, 39 mins
OG Anunoby was active defensively with six rebounds, three blocks, and a steal, but his offensive struggles were glaring. Shooting 5-of-17 overall and 1-of-9 from three, his inefficiency hurt the Knicks’ chances in critical moments.
Cameron Payne: C
Stats:Â 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 3-7 FG, 1-4 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -5 +/-, 16 mins
Cameron Payne scored seven points in just 16 minutes, shooting 3-of-7, but offered little else in terms of playmaking or defensive presence. His lack of impact limited the Knicks’ bench production.
Miles McBride: C
Stats:Â 5 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-8 FG, 1-6 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +0 +/-, 20 mins
Miles McBride hustled to contribute five points, three assists, and two rebounds, but his inefficiency (2-of-8 from the field) and inability to provide a scoring boost off the bench were noticeable shortcomings.
Precious Achiuwa: C
Stats: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -4 +/-, 19 mins
Precious Achiuwa was active on defense with two steals and two blocks while adding five rebounds, but his offensive contribution was minimal, scoring just two points on 1-of-2 shooting in 19 minutes.
Jericho Sims: N/A
Stats: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +1 +/-, 2 mins
Jericho Sims only played two minutes, making no significant statistical contribution during his brief time on the floor.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
