Trae Young’s 38 lift Hawks past Cavs for No. 8 playoff seed

Trae Younger scored 32 of his 38 factors within the second half and the Atlanta Hawks overcame shedding heart Clint Capela to a knee damage to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-101 within the play-in on Friday night time and earn the Japanese Convention’s No. 8 playoff seed.

Younger began slowly for the second straight recreation, however “Ice Trae,” as he fancies himself, heated up when it mattered most.

The All-Star guard scored 16 factors in third quarter to rally the Hawks from a 10-point halftime deficit, and added one other 16 within the fourth to complete off the Cavs, whose inexperience confirmed all through the second half.

Bogdan Bogdanovic added 19 factors for Atlanta, which is able to play No. 1 seed Miami within the first spherical. Sport 1 is Sunday in South Florida.

The Hawks, who made it to the convention finals a 12 months in the past, might should go ahead with out Capela. The 6-foot-10 heart hyperextended his proper knee late within the first half, needed to be helped from the ground and could not return.

Lauri Markkanen scored 26 and Darius Garland 21 for the younger Cavaliers, whose surprising season fell simply shy of a playoff berth.

Cleveland hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2018, and the Cavs have not been to the postseason with out LeBron James on their roster since 1998.

As if so as to add insult to damage, James tweeted an emoji of an ice dice within the closing seconds — a nod to Younger — because the Hawks had been ending Cleveland’s season.

Lifted by a rowdy, towel-waving crowd in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs had been in place to advance and performed effectively in lengthy stretches. Nonetheless, Cleveland’s offense slowed down within the third quarter, and the Cavs had no reply defensively for Younger.

As the ultimate seconds ticked off, Younger waved goodbye because the Cleveland crowd thinned out and headed to the exits.

Those that stayed saluted the Cavs, who weren’t anticipated to get this far after successful simply 22 video games final season. Whereas they have been relegated to lottery picks and shedding since James left after a four-year run to the NBA Finals 4 years in the past, the long run in Cleveland is brilliant.

With the season on the road, Cleveland bought an enormous emotional and defensive raise by the return of All-Star heart Jarrett Allen, who had missed the earlier 19 video games with a damaged finger on his left hand. Allen completed with 11 factors.

The Hawks had been in large hassle late within the third quarter, when Younger lastly heated up.

Ignoring some vulgar chants by Cleveland followers, the dazzling guard made a pair of 3-pointers and scored Atlanta’s last 12 factors within the quarter because the Hawks closed with a 17-8 run over the ultimate 3:48 to tie it 84-all going into to the ultimate 12 minutes.

Markkanen made 4 3-pointers and Cleveland hit six photographs from lengthy vary within the first 12 minutes to open an 11-point lead after one.

Atlanta helped with some sloppy play and dedicated seven turnovers, 4 by Younger.

However as soon as he began taking good care of the ball, and making photographs, there was no stopping him.

TIP-INS

Hawks: Danilo Gallinari added 14 factors. … Younger averaged 32.5 factors in 4 video games in opposition to Cleveland within the common season. … F/C John Collins (finger, foot) and Lou Williams (again) each sat out. … Dedicated a league-low 11.9 turnovers per recreation through the common season.

Cavaliers: Kevin Love solely performed 10 minutes — one within the second half. … Cleveland’s 22-win enchancment was the second largest in membership historical past. The 1991-92 Cavs made a 24-game soar.

CLEVELAND ROCKS

It was a rare sports activities night time in Cleveland.

Whereas the Hawks and Cavaliers tangled with a postseason spot up for grabs, the Guardians performed their first residence recreation since altering their title subsequent door at Progressive Area.

The doubleheader was harking back to 2016, when the Cavs obtained the NBA title rings on opening night time as Cleveland’s baseball group, then known as the Indians, hosted a World Sequence recreation.

UP NEXT

Hawks: Atlanta went 1-3 vs. Miami through the season.

Cavaliers: Extra time to relaxation up after an injury-ravaged season.