For a half on Wednesday, the New York Knicks were in full control of their NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Atlanta Hawks.
But Atlanta stormed back with a third-quarter outburst en route to a 108-100 win to advance to a semifinal matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Knicks opened a 28-22 lead after one quarter of play that they extended to 54-47 at halftime. The lead swelled to 62-52 early in the third quarter. But the Hawks looked like a different team for most of the second half and took 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 fought back a fourth-quarter Knicks run to silence a frantic Madison Square Garden crowd.
Young scored 12 of his 22 points in the third quarter in a performance that echoed his effort in the 2021 playoffs in a first-round defeat of the Knicks. He added 11 assists and five rebounds.
The Knicks cut a nine-point deficit to 93-87 midway through the fourth quarter. But the Hawks withstood the run and punched back to secure the eight-point victory. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Young rolled mock dice on the Knicks logo, delivering 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 an 58-49 rebounding margin that included 22 offensive rebounds.
This was not a one-man show for Atlanta. Fourth-year breakout forward Jalen Johnson repeatedly made big plays on both sides of the court en route to 21 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.
De’Andre Hunter add 24 points off the bench while hitting 4-of-5 shots from long distance. Onyeka Okongwu double-doubled with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks off the bench. It’s the type of effort Atlanta’s seeking from a young roster that’s looking to works its way up in the Eastern Conference pecking order.
It’s not the type of game the Hawks have produced consistently this season in a 14-12 start. But they stepped up on a big stage in front of a hostile crowd in a playoff-like atmosphere Wednesday. The’ve now won seven of their last eight games on their way to the NBA Cup semifinals.
The Knicks got a balanced effort on offense with all five starters scoring in double figures, led by 21 points from Josh Hart. But Jalen Brunson struggled from the field on a 5-of-15 shooting effort that netted 14 points and eight assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 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 with 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 eliminated from the NBA Cup and will next play the Orlando Magic on Sunday.