None of the current New York Knicks players were with the team in 2021 when they lost 4-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round. However, Trae Young is still with the Hawks, which is enough to make Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal game between Atlanta and New York feel like a high-stakes postseason matchup.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will move on to the semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday to play against the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic game on Tuesday.
The Knicks last played on Monday, pulling off a comeback in the fourth quarter to beat the Toronto Raptors 113-108. The Hawks haven’t played since Sunday when they lost 141-111 to the Denver Nuggets at home.
Both teams reached the NBA Cup quarterfinals by winning their groups. The Knicks finished 4-0 in East Group A, while the Hawks went 3-1 in East Group C, securing their spot with a 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics, who also had a 3-1 record.
While the Knicks haven’t shown much extra enthusiasm for the in-season tournament, their coach, Tom Thibodeau, has made it clear that his focus is on winning the NBA championship. New York has reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in the past two seasons, but they haven’t won the championship since 1973.
Despite Thibodeau’s usual focus on the next game, Jalen Brunson acknowledged that the prize money for reaching the knockout rounds is a motivating factor. Teams that lose in the quarterfinals will earn $51,497 each, and the winners will receive $514,971 per player.
As for Trae Young, who is known for embracing his role as a villain, especially against the Knicks, he may not need any extra motivation to perform in Madison Square Garden. In the 2021 series, Young was constantly taunted by New York fans, but he had the last laugh, including hitting the game-winning floater in Game 1, helping him average 29.2 points and 9.8 assists for the series.
Young has even been booed at home in Atlanta, like on November 6 when the Hawks beat the Knicks 121-116. “I hope these New York fans find their way to the exit real, real quick,” he said after the game.
Although the Hawks were beaten by the Nuggets on Sunday, Young’s talent for dramatic moments hasn’t faded. Just last Friday, he made NBA history by becoming the first player in 45 years to score at least 30 points, dish out 20 assists, and hit five 3-pointers in a game. He capped the performance by hitting a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 134-132.
“My confidence comes from the work that I’ve put in over the years,” Young said after the game.
