Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) drives past New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges (25), Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Josh Hart (3) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in New York.
NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Trae Young Guides Hawks To Semis
Trae Young was dribbling out the clock Wednesday night when he leaned down toward New York’s center-court logo and pretended he was shooting dice. When he’s at Madison Square Garden, always bet on Young. The court was orange this time, but otherwise it looked and felt like the 2021 playoffs. The Knicks had just been eliminated, and Young was celebrating in the middle of their arena. The star guard had 22 points and 11 assists, leading the Hawks to a 108-100 victory in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. They will head to Las Vegas to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. Young emerged as a villain to Knicks fans in 2021, when New York reached the postseason for the first time in eight years and drew the Hawks in the first round. They profanely taunted him in Game 1, even mocking his hair, but the point guard got the last word.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Hawks' Trae Young (11) drives past New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges
|Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Knicks' Josh Hart leaves the court
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
New York Knicks' Josh Hart leaves the court after an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Hawks' Jalen Johnson (1) defends New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
Atlanta Hawks' Jalen Johnson (1) defends New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) during the second half of an Emirates Cup NBA basketball game in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Knicks' Josh Hart (3) shoots over Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
New York Knicks' Josh Hart (3) shoots over Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) during the second half of an Emirates Cup NBA basketball game in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Knicks' OG Anunoby
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
New York Knicks' OG Anunoby (8) reacts during the second half of an Emirates Cup NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu (17) dunks the ball in front of New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns and Precious Achiuwa
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
Atlanta Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu (17) dunks the ball in front of New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Precious Achiuwa (5) during the second half of an Emirates Cup NBA basketball game in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson defend Atlanta Hawks' De'Andre Hunter
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and Jalen Brunson (11) defend Atlanta Hawks' De'Andre Hunter (12) during the first half of an Emirates Cup NBA basketball game in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) gestures after making a three-point shot
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) gestures after making a three-point shot during the first half of an Emirates Cup NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu shoots over New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
Atlanta Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu (17) shoots over New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and OG Anunoby (8) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in New York.
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NBA Cup Quarter-Final: Hawks' Trae Young (11) drives past New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges
| Photo: AP/Frank Franklin II
Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) drives past New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in New York.
