Tag: Atlanta Hawks

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Hawks aim to continue their success against the Cavaliers in Atlanta

Mikal Bridges and Trae Young in the 1st half

Trae Young believes the Atlanta Hawks will come out stronger from their current slump.

Their journey starts in Cleveland on Thursday against the Cavaliers, who are back on track with two consecutive wins.

The Hawks have lost six games in a row after their 100-96 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Atlanta managed to fight back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter, nearly pulling off an impressive win. However, De’Andre Hunter’s open 3-point attempt with 12.9 seconds left missed.

“It’s tough but it’s part of the NBA; you’ve got to dig yourself out of the holes that you put yourself in,” said Young, who scored 21 points and added nine assists after missing the previous game against Minnesota due to hamstring tightness.

“Sometimes teams just get put in holes and you’ve got to figure out how to find a way out of it. That’s where we’re at right now. We’re on a losing streak and we’ve got to figure out a way to get back on the winning side, however it comes.

“Whenever you’re fighting the way we’re fighting, we’re still giving ourselves a chance with everybody out there. It’s a good sign, but you obviously want to win more games than lose. We’ll be all right. Trust me.”

Young is listed as probable for the game in Cleveland while continuing to manage his right hamstring. Clint Capela (back) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (personal) will not play.

The Hawks played good defense for three quarters against the Rockets, but their poor shooting from beyond the arc hurt them. Atlanta only made 11 of 47 3-point attempts.

Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors

“I thought our looks were really good — they weren’t forced shots,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “I haven’t seen the ball go in the hole as much as you’d hope, but other than wanting to shoot the ball better, I like the fact that we’ve continued to play and defend.

“There’s a long runway for this team and this is a tough stretch right now. I’ve told the guys we have to keep grinding.”

Atlanta has beaten Cleveland twice this season and will face the Cavaliers on the second night of a back-to-back.

Cleveland defeated the Miami Heat 126-106 on Wednesday, which allowed coach Kenny Atkinson to manage his players’ minutes.

“The icing on the cake is I saved some minutes for our guys,” Atkinson said. “We’ve got a look at the big picture — we’ve got the game against an Atlanta team that’s beaten us twice.”

Donovan Mitchell scored 34 points in what Atkinson called “an elite All-Star performance,” while Evan Mobley added 22 points and 15 rebounds as he continues to recover from a calf injury.

“Better,” Atkinson said about Mobley’s performance. “(He) got to the boards, got to the rim, had a couple of dunks. I told him you’re 75-80 percent of where you were, so I can feel it coming.”

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The Timberwolves Aim To Maintain Their Winning Streak As They Face The Struggling Hawks In Minneapolis

Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley is aware that he and his teammates have struggled with consistency this season.

However, there might be a change coming. The Timberwolves are coming off one of their best wins of the season and will look for their third straight victory when they play the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Conley believes the key to their success lies in their mindset.

“Number one, it’s not getting bored of doing the right thing,” Conley said. “We’ve had spells where we do it for four or five possessions and then we say, ‘Let’s go (get isolations), or let’s try something else.’

No, just keep playing fast. Keep throwing the ball ahead, getting transition looks, just getting downhill and sharing the basketball.

“When we put energy to that side of the basketball, I think it bodes well for us.”

The Timberwolves saw the results of this approach in a 133-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. This came just three days after their 115-114 road win over the Dallas Mavericks.

As the Timberwolves look to keep the momentum going, the Atlanta Hawks are trying to end their four-game losing streak. The Hawks lost 117-94 at home to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks

Injuries have made things harder for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson (shoulder) and De’Andre Hunter (illness) missed the last game and are considered day-to-day for Monday’s game in Minnesota.

The Hawks’ No. 1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, is also out due to a thigh injury. The 19-year-old is averaging 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in his rookie season.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder said these injuries have forced players into unfamiliar roles, which has led to more turnovers and mistakes.

“Some guys were in unfamiliar situations,” Snyder said after the loss. “Having some guys out, that made it harder for us. You saw the result.”

The Timberwolves are missing a couple of players as well, Donte DiVincenzo (toe) and rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. (ankle), for Monday’s game. DiVincenzo recently learned he won’t need surgery, but there’s no clear timeline for his return.

Trae Young leads the Hawks with 22.8 points per game and 11.5 assists. Johnson is second on the team with 18.9 points and a team-high 10.0 rebounds.

For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards leads with 26.3 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting. Julius Randle is averaging 18.9 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Naz Reid (13.6 ppg) believes the Timberwolves’ recent improvements are a positive sign for the future.

“We’ve got to figure it out, as far as staying consistent,” Reid said. “Taking our time, processing everything, playing for each other. I think we’ve been playing like that lately.

“It takes a while. I’ve been saying it since the beginning of the year, it takes a while to get to this point. Still a long way to go, … but I think (it comes down to) habits, just continue our habits we’re building right now.”

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The Chicago Bulls hand an easy win to the injury-riddled Atlanta Hawks in Chicago

The Hawks’ Garrison Mathews shoots between the Bulls’ Coby White and Nikola Vučević during the first quarter

The Chicago Bulls lost 110-94 to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night at the United Center, extending their losing streak to three games during one of the easier stretches of their season.

While some losses are close battles, this one was more of a gift. After losing to the New Orleans Pelicans 119-113 the night before, the Bulls didn’t make much of an effort to protect the ball early on. The Hawks took advantage of this, scoring 18 points off 13 turnovers in the first half alone. Guard Josh Giddey was responsible for three of those turnovers, but nine Bulls players contributed at least one turnover in that half.

Though the turnovers slowed down in the second half, the damage had already been done, and the Bulls were trailing by double digits. It wasn’t just the turnovers (they finished with 20), but the Bulls also struggled to hustle on effort plays. They gave up 27 second-chance points from 14 offensive rebounds.

This should have been a game the Bulls could win with ease. The Hawks were missing seven players due to injuries, including key starters like Trae Young (ribs), De’Andre Hunter (left foot), Jalen Johnson (shoulder), and Zaccharie Risacher (left adductor).

However, the Hawks got huge contributions from their remaining roster, with players stepping up in their expanded roles. Daeqwon Plowden, making his NBA debut, scored 19 points against the Bulls, and Keaton Wallace led the way with 27 points.

For the Bulls, Coby White led the team with 16 points, Zach LaVine added 15, and Nikola Vučević posted his usual double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. However, none of the Bulls’ stars were able to match the energy and contributions from the Hawks’ backup players.

Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic hugs in the preseason

Here are three key takeaways from the loss:

Ayo Dosunmu Returns to the Lineup
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu made his return after missing 10 games due to a strained calf, and he immediately had an impact. Dosunmu is a crucial part of the team’s transition offense, pushing the pace after defensive rebounds—something the Bulls had missed during his absence.

With Dosunmu back, the Bulls scored 24 points off fast breaks. Despite playing only 25 minutes, just under his minutes limit, Dosunmu was one of the few bright spots for the Bulls, finishing with nine points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Lonzo Ball Misses the Second Night of the Back-to-Back
Dosunmu’s return was especially important since Lonzo Ball was sidelined for the second night of a back-to-back as part of his ongoing recovery plan. Ball is still coming back from three knee surgeries, and after his 33-month absence, the Bulls plan for him to sit out one game of every back-to-back for the rest of the season.

Ball is also playing under a 25-minute restriction, which he expects will remain until after the All-Star break. Though the Bulls are open to testing whether Ball can play both games of back-to-backs later in the season, the medical team is cautious about increasing his playing time too soon.

Postseason Stakes
Although it may seem early in the season for games to have postseason implications, the Bulls and Hawks are once again battling for play-in spots. This is the third consecutive season that the two teams are competing for the ninth and 10th spots in the Eastern Conference standings. Beating the Hawks on Wednesday would have given the Bulls the head-to-head tiebreaker, a key factor in determining play-in positioning.

With the loss, the Bulls (18-23) now trail the ninth-place Hawks (21-19) by 3½ games but still hold a two-game lead over the 11th-place Philadelphia 76ers (15-24).

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Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for consecutive games against the Atlanta Hawks in Los Angeles

LeBron James in the 1st half

LeBron James’ first back-to-back games since turning 40 will wrap up on Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Atlanta Hawks.

In Thursday’s 114-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, James showed he is up for the challenge, scoring 38 points and tying Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history with 562.

Adding to the difficulty, star player Anthony Davis was absent due to a sprained left ankle. Davis, who injured the ankle on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors, might return as soon as Friday.

James started the first of two games in two days with strong energy.

“You have a guy out who is averaging 25-plus points, with rebounds and blocks, A.D. is our No. 1, No. 2 option so when he’s out, you have to go step up your game, including myself,” James said. “I think everybody pitched in on that end.”

James made a season-high seven 3-pointers out of 10 attempts, his third most this season.

“I like when he’s a willing 3-point shooter,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “We want him aggressive (and) shot ready from three as much as we want him to get downhill and put pressure on the rim.”

Max Christie also played a key role, scoring a career-high 28 points and making 5 of 9 3-pointers. Austin Reaves stepped up in his bigger offensive role, adding 11 assists and 15 points.

Christie will be important again on Friday, especially in defense as he helps guard Trae Young of the Hawks. Despite Young’s scoring average of 22.3 points per game being the lowest since his rookie season, he has surpassed that average in six of his last seven games.

Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat

Young recently scored 30 points in a 139-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. De’Andre Hunter added 20 points off the bench as the Hawks’ four-game winning streak ended. Atlanta struggled with 3-point shooting, making only 16 of 46 attempts (34.8%).

The Hawks were missing Bogdan Bogdanovic (leg contusion) and Jalen Johnson (shoulder soreness), leaving two key scorers sidelined. However, it was their lack of urgency in transition defense that hurt them the most.

“You’re always going to have players out,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Obviously, Jalen’s a good player but really, if we would have had urgency in (defensive) transition, anyone can do that. That was where we weren’t urgent out of the gate.”

Friday’s game is Atlanta’s third of a six-game road trip. It will be a rematch of the December 6 game, when the Lakers won 134-132 in overtime. In that game, Young had 31 points and 20 assists, while James posted a triple-double with 39 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.

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Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets past Hawks with another strong performance

Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks

Nikola Jokic posted 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists for his 14th triple-double of the season, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 139-120 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. This was his third triple-double in the last four games. The 15 assists were just one short of his season-high of 16, which he has reached twice.

Russell Westbrook contributed 16 points and 11 assists, while Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored 21 points for Denver, who have now scored over 130 points in four consecutive games.

The Nuggets recorded a season-high 44 assists and completed the season sweep over the Hawks, having previously won 141-111 in Atlanta on December 8.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and nine assists. De’Andre Hunter added 20 points, Vit Krejci scored 14, Zaccharie Risacher finished with 13, and David Roddy chipped in 10 points.

Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks

Denver started strong with 40 points in the first quarter but couldn’t pull away, as Atlanta rallied from a nine-point deficit early in the second to take a 62-57 lead. However, the Nuggets responded and led 74-71 at halftime. Jokic was close to a triple-double at the break with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.

The Nuggets took control in the third quarter, with Porter and Murray hitting 3-pointers, and Westbrook adding a driving layup to stretch the lead to 84-75 in the first few minutes. After a brief response from the Hawks, Denver went on an 18-3 run to push the lead to 20.

Jokic added eight points in the final 3:48 and finished his night with a 15th assist to Peyton Watson, who scored 11 points.

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Hawks aim to extend winning run and avenge loss to Nuggets

Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls

The Atlanta Hawks have had an up-and-down start to the season, but they are currently on a positive run as they prepare for a New Year’s Day game against the Denver Nuggets.

Atlanta has won four straight games, including a 126-115 victory over Toronto on Sunday to begin a six-game road trip. On Wednesday, they will get another shot at the Nuggets, who beat the Hawks 141-111 on Dec. 8, ending Atlanta’s six-game winning streak.

After a rough start to the season with a 7-11 record, the Hawks have bounced back with 11 wins in their last 15 games. They will look to extend their streak despite being without reserve forward Larry Nance Jr., who broke his right hand in a game against Miami on Saturday and will have surgery on Thursday.

Nance has played in 15 games this season, averaging 9.5 points, and has been part of trade rumors. Guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has missed four straight games with a lower-leg contusion and is doubtful for Wednesday’s game.

The Hawks’ recent success has been driven by Trae Young, who leads the team with 22 points and 12.1 assists per game. Jalen Johnson is also contributing with 19.9 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds per game. De’Andre Hunter, coming off the bench, has been a key contributor with 20.6 points per game.

Young spoke highly of Hunter, saying, “We need big moments from certain guys, and Dre has been doing great for us. That’s Sixth Man of the Year right there too. So, we got a couple of guys that can win some awards if we keep winning.”

Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets

On the other side, Denver has been led by Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. Injuries have forced him into the starting lineup in 10 of the Nuggets’ 31 games.

Westbrook had a standout performance in Monday’s win against Utah, scoring 16 points on a perfect shooting night (7-of-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from the free-throw line), and he also recorded his 201st career triple-double.

Coach Michael Malone praised Westbrook, saying, “He came here for one reason, that’s to help us win a championship. And he hates to lose. And that’s what I also love about him, is that he’s built the right way. I’ll go to war with Russell Westbrook any day.”

While Westbrook has stepped up, the Nuggets are led by the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic. Jokic recorded his league-leading 13th triple-double of the season on Monday and entered Tuesday ranked second in the NBA in scoring (31 points per game), third in rebounds (12.9 per game), and third in assists (9.5 per game). Jokic is once again making a strong case for his fourth MVP award. Jamal Murray (19.8 points per game) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.7) are also key scorers for the Nuggets.

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Heat look to showcase resilience in clash with Hawks

Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors

The Miami Heat and Hawks are both coming off wins as they meet for the first of four games this season on Saturday in Atlanta.

The Heat defeated the Orlando Magic 89-88 on Thursday, while the Hawks made a dramatic comeback to beat the Chicago Bulls 141-133 after scoring 50 points in the final quarter.

Both teams won on Thursday after facing big deficits. Miami was down 14-0 at the start of its game, and Atlanta trailed by 21 points late in the third quarter.

“That’s why you have to develop grit,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You have to develop mental toughness, and it has to be collective toughness. Hopefully that’s a lesson, not only for the young guys but for the team in general that the ultimate deal is just find a way to win — and sometimes that gets lost.”

Atlanta’s Trae Young said, “That just shows the resilience we have on our team and how we’re not going to quit and continue to fight. This shows how good our team is when we play the right way.”

Last season, the Heat won three out of four meetings with the Hawks, sweeping both games in Atlanta.

Miami’s Tyler Herro has been a consistent problem for Atlanta. Herro is averaging a career-high 23.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season. He averages 18.0 points in 16 career games against the Hawks, and in three games last season, he scored 30, 25, and 33 points.

Herro hit the game-winning jumper with 0.5 seconds left to beat the Magic on Thursday.

Trae Young and Gary Trent Jr. in the 1st half

“That just shows how mentally tough he is,” Spoelstra said. “(Orlando) really game-planned to wear on him and get him out of his comfort stuff and you have to give them credit for that. But the shot making was important.”

Miami’s Bam Adebayo has also been a tough matchup for Atlanta. Adebayo averages 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in 23 career games against the Hawks. He will face an Atlanta team that has been missing key players, including Onyeka Okongwu, who has missed the last four games due to left knee soreness and will not play on Saturday.

Young, who passed 11,000 career points on Thursday, leads the Hawks in scoring (22.0 points) and is No. 1 in the NBA with 12.1 assists. In 19 career games against the Heat, Young averages 22.2 points and 8.7 assists. He missed two of the four games against Miami last season due to injury but scored 27 and 30 in the games he played.

De’Andre Hunter averages 20.3 points, and Jalen Johnson contributes 19.8 points and 10.3 rebounds for Atlanta.

Besides Okongwu, the Hawks have been without key reserve Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is dealing with a left lower leg contusion. Miami is missing Pelle Larsson (right ankle sprain), and Jimmy Butler’s status is uncertain after missing the last two games due to a stomach illness.

This will be the last game of Atlanta’s four-game homestand before they begin a six-game road trip through the Western Conference.

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Hawks surge with 50-point fourth quarter to defeat Bulls

Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls

Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 30 points, including the go-ahead basket late in the fourth quarter, to help the Atlanta Hawks overcome a 21-point deficit and beat the Chicago Bulls 141-133 on Thursday.

Johnson contributed 11 of Atlanta’s 50 points in the fourth quarter, and his basket with 2:44 left gave the Hawks the lead for good. It was the highest-scoring fourth quarter by any NBA team this season.

Atlanta was down 108-87 with 1:12 remaining in the third quarter and trailed by 17 going into the fourth.

Johnson made 11 of 16 field goals and added 15 rebounds and four assists. Trae Young scored 27 points, with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter, along with 13 assists. He hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 126-126 with 3:03 left. De’Andre Hunter added 25 points off the bench for Atlanta.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with a season-high 37 points, scoring 22 of them in the third quarter, and also had seven assists. It was the second time this season LaVine had over 30 points and more than five assists. Jevon Carter scored a season-high 26 points, and Coby White added 23 points and nine assists for Chicago.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jalen Johnson in the 2nd half

The Bulls made 22 of 43 3-point attempts (51.2 percent), marking their 31st straight game with at least 10 successful 3-pointers, extending the longest such streak in team history.

Atlanta started well, picking up where they left off after a 13-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, leading 9-2. But the Bulls began hitting 3-pointers and took control, leading 33-21 after the first quarter. Carter led the charge with six 3-pointers and 19 points in the opening quarter.

Chicago extended the lead to 16 points with a basket from Jalen Smith, and despite a surge from the Hawks, including 10 points from Larry Nance Jr., the Bulls led 64-53 at halftime.

Atlanta cut the deficit to five points after Hunter’s three-point play with 3:52 left in the third, but the Bulls responded with a 16-0 run to take a 21-point lead. Chicago scored 44 points in the third quarter and led 108-91 heading into the fourth.

The Bulls were missing key players: Josh Giddey (ankle), Ayo Dosunmu (Achilles), and Lonzo Ball (illness). Atlanta was also without Bogdan Bogdanovic (leg) and Onyeka Okongwu (knee).

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The Hawks are looking to change their recent track record against the Bulls

Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls

The Atlanta Hawks will aim to end their losing streak against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday when the teams meet for the third time this season.

The Bulls have won the first two matchups — 125-113 in Atlanta on Nov. 9 and 136-122 in Chicago on Nov. 22. Chicago has also won the last three games played in Atlanta.

Both teams are struggling through the holiday season. Atlanta has won six of its last 10 games, including a 117-104 win over Minnesota on Monday, which ended a three-game losing streak. Chicago is 5-5 in its last 10 games and coming off a 112-91 loss to Milwaukee on Monday.

“(Monday) was a good turnaround,” said Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels. “We have to defend. Defense is a must, and we came locked in for four quarters. The season is going by pretty quick. We’ve played 30 games already and our bodies are feeling pretty good. We need to push our record, get a few more wins on the board.”

Daniels, who was acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in the offseason, has been a pleasant surprise for the Hawks. The Australian, known as “The Great Barrier Thief,” leads the NBA with 3.2 steals per game and had eight steals in the win over the Timberwolves. He also averages 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

“It’s just about reading the game, knowing where the ball is going to go and then hacking,” Daniels said. “I just be hacking.”

The Hawks also benefited from the return of Trae Young, who missed the previous game against Memphis with a bruised heel. Young scored 10 of his 29 points against Minnesota in the first quarter. The Hawks have struggled to manage the offense without him, as he leads the league with 12.0 assists per game.

Trae Young shoots in the 1st half

“We wanted to come out with a different energy, different attitude,” Young said.

The Bulls are second in the NBA for 3-point shooting attempts, averaging 44.0 per game. They have made 36.3% of them, but Coby White has struggled, shooting just 27.8% (20-for-72) from 3-point range over the past nine games.

“I get cold, but I ain’t never got cold like this, for as many games as it’s been,” White said. “I maybe had two or three game or four (game stretches) and then kind of get hot and get back in rhythm. I’m a career 38-39 percent 3-point shooter, so it will all even out. I ain’t worried about it.”

Leading scorer Zach LaVine (21.7 points per game) expressed his support for White.

“Coby plays hard every game. I don’t think that messes with his mindset at all. I think we’ll all be OK.”

The Bulls have been without Josh Giddey (11.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists) for the past three games due to a sprained right ankle. They also played their last game without Lonzo Ball, who was out due to a non-COVID illness.

Atlanta has been missing versatile reserve Bogdan Bogdanovic, who was out with a lower leg bruise, and backup center Onyeka Okongwu, who is dealing with left knee soreness.

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The Hawks’ defense will be tested by the Grizzlies’ explosive offense

Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks

The Atlanta Hawks’ defense will face a tough challenge on Saturday when they begin a four-game homestand by playing against the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA’s best offensive team.

The Hawks allow 119.3 points per game, which is the fourth-worst in the league. What’s more concerning is their struggle to defend the 3-point shot. They rank last in the NBA, giving up an average of 15.9 3-pointers per game at a 38.2 percent success rate.

This could be a big problem against Memphis, who set a franchise record by hitting 27 3-pointers in their 144-93 win over Golden State on Thursday.

Memphis also played well on defense. They held Golden State’s stars, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, without a field goal. Curry was 0-for-7 with two points, and Green was 0-for-4 without scoring.

“That’s our mentality,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “I tell the guys all the time, and I give them the list of things I saw that were really good. I’m like, this is what it’s got to be like every single night. They know it. It’s a tough schedule for everyone, 82 games, and some teams will get more attention than others.”

“And Atlanta is playing really well right now, a dynamic team, but it’s always about us, you know, I don’t care who’s on the schedule.”

The Hawks, who reached the semifinals of the NBA Cup tournament, have lost two games in a row but have won seven out of their last 10. In their 133-126 overtime loss to San Antonio on Thursday, four Hawks players scored more than 20 points. This was the third time in their last five games that Atlanta allowed more than 130 points.

Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics

“That balance is something we’ve had,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder. “We had a lot of good possessions where we were spaced and able to get some good looks.”

This will be the first meeting between the teams this season. Last year, they split their two games, each winning on the other’s home court. Memphis has won two straight games in Atlanta.

Memphis made a change to their starting lineup, moving Zach Edey into the center position, with Brandon Clarke coming off the bench against Golden State. Edey contributed eight points and eight rebounds, while Clarke had eight points and 10 rebounds in the win.

“We just felt our starting unit needed a little bit of a boost,” said Jenkins. “Could I get a little bit of a jolt there? I thought Zach played well, and this is no reflection on B.C., he’s been great with any unit. It was a tough decision, and we’ll keep evaluating lineup combinations.”

The easy win for Memphis helped reduce the playing time for Ja Morant, who took a hard fall against Indiana in the previous game and was listed as questionable due to back soreness. Morant started but only played 17 minutes because of the game’s one-sided score. He is still listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.

Morant is second on the team with an average of 21.2 points per game, behind Jaren Jackson Jr. at 21.8 points.

Atlanta will be without backups Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder) and Onyeka Okongwu (left knee inflammation), while star guard Trae Young (right heel) is listed as questionable. Memphis is missing Jay Huff (left ankle sprain), and Marcus Smart (left shoulder) is also questionable.

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Bucks defeat Hawks, secure spot in NBA Cup championship game

Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and recorded eight assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 110-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, earning a spot in the NBA Cup final. Damian Lillard added 25 points for the Bucks, shooting 8-of-21 from the field and 5-of-14 from three-point range.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 35 points and 10 assists, making 9 of 18 shots. Young also grabbed seven rebounds in the first half, just missing a triple-double.

The Bucks will face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Houston Rockets in Tuesday’s title game.

Milwaukee finished strong in the fourth quarter, outscoring Atlanta 28-19 with a strong defensive effort to hold off a comeback. Antetokounmpo scored 10 points in the final quarter to push the Bucks past the Hawks.

Young was impressive in the third quarter, scoring 14 points to help Atlanta erase Milwaukee’s eight-point lead. Onyeka Okungwu hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 78, and Jalen Johnson dunked to give the Hawks an 80-78 lead with 32.6 seconds left in the quarter.

Trae Young and Gary Trent Jr. in the 1st half

Johnson was given a technical foul for his reaction to the dunk, and Lillard made a free throw to reduce the Hawks’ lead to 80-79. Johnson then made his free throw to give Atlanta an 81-79 advantage.

Lillard responded by hitting a 3-pointer, giving the Bucks an 82-81 lead with 15 seconds left. Johnson later scored on a tip-in, giving the Hawks an 83-82 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Hawks were ahead 28-26 after the first quarter, but the Bucks outscored them by eight points in the second quarter, leading 55-49 at halftime. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 14 points in the first half, shooting 5-of-8 from the field. Young led Atlanta with 12 points and was close to a triple-double by halftime with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Milwaukee shot 39-of-86 (45.3 percent) from the field and made 14 of 45 attempts from three-point range. They outscored Atlanta 22-15 in fast-break points and had a 47-44 advantage in rebounds. Atlanta shot 42.7 percent from the field and made 10-of-24 from three-point range.

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Trae Young and the Hawks are aiming for a major victory in Las Vegas at the NBA Cup semifinals

Trae Young attempts to make a basket in the 2nd half

Trae Young could be considered one of the NBA’s biggest mysteries.

His fans point to his impressive statistics to say he’s a top player. On the other hand, his critics highlight his numbers to argue that he’s overrated. Both sides have their reasons. Some people find his confident attitude charming, while others find it frustrating.

What can’t be debated is that he’s been a key part of Atlanta’s surprising success this season. The Hawks are in the NBA Cup semifinals and will face Milwaukee on Saturday. The other semifinal game will feature Oklahoma City and Houston, with the championship game taking place on Tuesday night.

“When we talk about Trae, the word I like to use is evolution,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “And every player evolves. They just evolve in different ways. He’s been an important part of our young guys’ growth and being able to elevate them.”

The Hawks haven’t had many major moments in Young’s seven years with the team. But he has a knack for rising to the occasion: eliminating the New York Knicks in the 2021 playoffs, knocking the Knicks out of this tournament to make it to Las Vegas, and now facing another chance to play for a trophy on national television Saturday.

Josh Hart and Trae Young in the 1st half

“I feel like this team has been embracing the challenge each and every night from the beginning of the season,” Young said. “We haven’t looked too far ahead in any moment. We’re just taking it day by day. Even though early on in the season we may have had some struggles and some bumps in the road and some guys out, we stuck with the process and focused on each day.”

Here’s part of why people support Young: He’s averaging 21 points and 12 assists, a feat that only Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas have done over a full season, and he’s on track to lead the league in assists for the first time.

Here’s part of why some criticize Young: Out of the 220 players with at least 50 3-point attempts this season, he ranks 189th with a 30.8% shooting rate. And among the 248 players with at least 100 field goal attempts, he ranks 231st with a shooting percentage of 38.4%.

You can choose which side to take — both have merit. But it’s clear that Young, who was frustrated about not being chosen for the USA Basketball team for the Paris Olympics, is growing and maturing.

“He’s doing a better job on both ends of the floor,” said Bucks coach Doc Rivers. “Defensively he’s figured out a way of keeping himself out of actions. I know that sounds easy. That’s hard to do, and he’s brilliant at it, he really is.

He must be really studying the game on both ends of the floor, and you can see that in his play. And he’s earned the trust of his players. This team likes playing with him, that’s obvious. I couldn’t say that in the past, but now they love playing with him.”

Hawks forward Jalen Johnson agrees.

“He’s so good, man,” Johnson said. “It’s crazy, like just seeing it in person and on TV prior to me playing with the Hawks and getting drafted by the Hawks, it was crazy just watching it. A guy that’s undersized, being able to score at will, being able to make any pass at will. And then next thing you know you’re his teammate and you’re on the receiving end of those passes.

Trae Young walks off the game after the game

“Watching those clutch late-game buckets, it’s a joy to watch. It’s a gift that he has that’s very special and not many people have had it at that elite of a level. It’s been great being his teammate. It’s been a blessing.”

Saturday presents an opportunity. The NBA Cup semifinals are the only games on the NBA schedule for that day, and the title game on Tuesday — which doesn’t count for the regular season standings — is the only game on the slate that night as well.

Young will have many people watching him Saturday, and even more if the Hawks manage to win against the Bucks. They’re 3-1 against Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland and Boston this season and 1-0 against Milwaukee.

The potential for the Hawks is clear, and Young’s potential has always been evident too. But now, it’s starting to show.

“The narrative about me not being able to do certain things or being too mad or frustrated about certain things is — I mean, just aren’t true,” Young said.

“I think you’re just now being able to see like with the young team we have, just some of the different things we’ve been doing this year, I think just now you’re starting to kind of see it because the results are showing and we’re winning now. We’re here in this final four of the Cup, and it’s a big deal.”