Veteran guard C.J. McCollum had a throwback game in the Atlanta Hawks’ victory over the New York Knicks.

The Hawks defeated the Knicks 107-106. This tied their playoff series at one win for each team. 

McCollum scored 32 points in the Hawks’ victory to lead the team. Jonathan Kuminga also had a good scoring game with 19 points off the bench.

Both McCollum and Kuminga were acquired midseason. McCollum was traded to the Hawks in a package for Trae Young, while Kuminga was traded for Kristaps Porzingis.

McCollum averaged 18.7 points per game this season, the third-lowest mark of his career. Despite this, he had a huge playoff performance for the Hawks.

This is McCollum’s first time scoring 30 or more in a playoff game since 2022 with the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored 30 points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns. 

Karl-Anthony Towns had a strong game for the Knicks with 18 points and eight rebounds. Despite this, he only took four shots in the second half. Josh Hart made major contributions with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Brunson struggled in this game, shooting 10 of 26 from the field. Despite this, the Knicks still had a chance to win.

McCollum missed two free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining. Hart got the rebound and quickly passed the basketball downcourt to Mikal Bridges. Bridges got a good look from mid-range but missed, securing the Hawks’ win. 

The NBC Broadcast showed the Knicks still had one timeout. Knicks head coach Mike Brown was asked why he didn’t use a timeout. He told reporters he didn’t have one, and the scorekeepers confirmed it. 

The next game of the series will be on April 23. The next two games of the series will be at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. 

Jonathan Kuminga scored 27 points in his Atlanta Hawks debut against the Washington Wizards.

On Feb. 4, Kuminga was traded along with Buddy Hield for Kristaps Porzingis. Kuminga was recovering from a left knee bone bruise he suffered on Jan. 22, which had recently healed.  

Kuminga was the Hawks’ best player in his debut. Along with his team-high in scoring, he also had seven rebounds and four assists. He also had help from Corey Kispert, who scored 12 points. Kispert was playing against his former team.

The Wizards got strong performances from Will Riley and Jamir Watkins off the bench. Despite this, the Hawks still won 119-98. 

The Golden State Warriors had very difficult contract negotiations with Kuminga this offseason. ESPN reported that the Warriors were unhappy with Kuminga’s development outside of his scoring. 

Kuminga played very well the first four games of the season. However, he quickly declined after this, leading to his playing time getting reduced. 

In a Dec. 6 game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kuminga was benched late into the game. Kuminga hadn’t played in clutch time much this season, but showed frustration with the decision to bench him in this game.

Draymond Green tried to talk to him, but that only upset Kuminga more, who stormed out of the locker room. Kuminga did not receive a formal punishment, but didn’t play the next three games. This was effectively the beginning of the end for Kuminga’s time with the Warriors.

ESPN reported that the Warriors were shopping Kuminga around for at least a month before the trade with the Hawks. 

The Warriors got the size they needed with Porzingis. Meanwhile, Kuminga gives the Hawks a young piece to kickstart their rebuild. 

The Warriors and Hawks will meet on March 21. This game will be at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. 

The Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks exchanged shooters just hours before the trade deadline.

The Lakers got Luke Kennard while the Hawks got Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick.

Kennard was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NBA draft. In 2019-20, he averaged nearly 16 points per game. He led the league in 3-point shooting in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He is currently leading the league in 3-point shooting with a 50 percent 3-point percentage. 

Vincent went undrafted in the 2018 draft. The Miami Heat signed him a season later, and he played nine games. He became a consistent part of their rotation in 2021-22. Vincent was a major part of the Heat’s 2023 Finals run. He scored 20 or more points against the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks twice, the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets. Vincent signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Lakers that offseason. Injuries have prevented Vincent from having the same impact. 

The Lakers save a negligible amount of money with this trade. Both players will be free agents at season’s end. The Lakers get a clear upgrade while the Hawks get a future asset in the second-round pick. 

The Lakers will benefit greatly from Kennard’s shooting. They look to compete for a championship in what may be LeBron James’ last season with the Lakers, or maybe even in the league. James has not currently committed to anything after this season.

Meanwhile, the Hawks will fully commit to their rebuild. Trading Trae Young to the Washington Wizards already solidified their intent to rebuild. 2026 All-Star Jalen Johnson will be their leader going forward. The Hawks also own the New Orleans Pelicans pick, which is currently projected to be the No. 2 pick in the draft.

A pump fake is supposed to be utilized to create an opportunity on offense or to make a shot easier for yourself. They’re certainly not supposed to be used on referees. The NBA said, “he was making a mockery of the game.”

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young was ejected late in the Hawks’ play-in game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. Following a made basket by Young, he rocketed a pass toward referee James Williams, leading to his first technical of the night. He followed up his rocketed pass by kicking the ball, pump faking Williams and refusing to give him the ball.

That action led to his second technical and likely a fine.

Frustrations boiled over for Young, as the Hawks fell 120-95. The Magic controlled the game throughout, never losing the lead after the first quarter. A run by the Hawks cut the lead down to three late in the third, only for the Magic to respond with a dominant fourth quarter.

Young finished with 28 points on 8-21 shooting and six assists. He was the Hawks’ leading scorer.

When asked about his actions, Young was clear on why his emotions boiled over.

“Sometimes when I take my frustration out on the refs, it’s not just for me,” Young said. “If you see a foul, you should call a foul. That’s pretty much all it was for me.”

With the loss to the Magic, the Hawks will play the winner of the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat on Friday. The Hawks need to win that game to stay in the playoffs.

The Magic will play the defending champion Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, where the Celtics will be heavy favorites.

Last week, during a game against the Raptors, Hawks forward Jalen Johnson exited the game early in the second quarter with a left shoulder injury. Atlanta will now be without him for the rest of the season due to a torn labrum. He sustained the injury while fouling Scottie Barnes and left the court immediately.

The Hawks addressed Johnson’s injury from last week with the following statement:

“Forward Jalen Johnson left Thursday night’s game vs. Toronto after sustaining a left shoulder injury during the second quarter. He will be listed as out as he undergoes further medical testing and evaluation. His injury and status will be updated as appropriate.”

This is a significant setback for the Hawks, who sit at 22-25 and remain in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings at ninth seed. Johnson has been a vital piece for Atlanta this season, averaging nearly 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists through 36 games. He leads the team in rebounding and is third in scoring behind Trae Young and De’Andre Hunter.

Johnson was sidelined earlier this month due to shoulder inflammation but returned to action on Jan. 18. He played four games before suffering another shoulder injury on Jan. 23 against the Raptors, forcing him back out of the lineup.

With Johnson out, Zaccharie Risacher is expected to play a bigger role, though he’s still finding his footing in the NBA, averaging only 10.5 points. Hunter, the team’s second-leading scorer with 19.1 points per game, will likely become the primary scoring option behind Young.

Atlanta is currently on a six-game losing streak and will look to snap it on Thursday when they face the 37-9 Cavaliers on the road.

Prior to the season, Johnson and the Hawks reached an agreement on a five-year, $150 million contract extension.

Atlanta is bringing back their guard, as the Hawks extend Dejounte Murray and sign him to a four-year, veteran maximum worth $120 million that also includes a player option, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The 26-year-old point guard was traded from San Antonio back in June 2022 last offseason for Danilo Gallinari, now with Washington Wizards, and three first-round picks. Hawks also received Jock Landale, now on the Houston Rockets, and swapped picks in 2026 with the Spurs.

Due to the NBA’s new extension rules, Atlanta was able to make a deal like this under a new collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA now allows teams to offer 140% of the player’s previous salary or the estimated average salary as the starting salary of a new extension, as it was previously only 120%. Murray doesn’t fall under the super-max category due to eligibility, so he was limited to a 40% raise in the first season of a new deal. Now, the All-Star is slated to make a little over $18 million in guaranteed salary for 2023, as the incentives in the deal are TBD as of now.

Last season, the Hawks traded for Murray in hopes of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals again. However, that didn’t happen, as their 2022-2023 season was disappointing even at 41-41. The previous season, Atlanta went 43-39, and even the year before that, went 41-31. This past season, the Hawks were bounced 2-4 in the opening round by the Boston Celtics, and the previous year, it was the Miami Heat 1-4. Atlanta will look to recapture their 2020-2021 season magic, as they made it to the Eastern Conference finals before getting beaten by Milwaukee Bucks 2-4.

But with this new extension, the duo of Murray and superstar Trae Young will continue to grow, as they make up one of the better and younger pairings in the NBA. With Young in their first year together, he averaged 20.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 6.1 APG while shooting 34.4% from the 3PT range, displaying his value as an elite two-way player. The former first-rounder from 2016 also is the second player in franchise history to average at least 20.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 5.0 APG for Atlanta.

Murray had one year left on the previous contract he signed with the Spurs and was slated to become a free agent next offseason, but decided to stay with the Hawks. Now it’s up to Atlanta to build around him and Young, so hopefully their stint in the playoffs is longer than previous years.

Though his return to the starting lineup may be gradual, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns proved Wednesday night that he is the x-factor for a team on the brink of playoff contention. Coming back from injury with a brilliant performance, the big man proved that he still has the ability to propel Minnesota from a first-round exit to a potentially deep playoff run.

In the Timberwolves’ game against the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday, Towns made his first appearance since recovering from a right calf sprain he suffered in late November. He only appeared on the floor for 26 minutes but scored 22 points with four rebounds and three assists. Minnesota won 125-124.

Though the Timberwolves, now 36-37, have managed to scrape together a credible season thus far without the services of its star center, Towns’ limited presence seemed to make an immediate difference. Fatigue was an issue but he still managed to produce as the team’s second-highest scorer, and trailing by one with 3.6 seconds remaining, he hit two free throws to win the game.

“As soon as they told me that, me and [Anthony Edwards] both looked at each and said the same thing: ‘Game’s over.’ Two free throws for me. That’s game, set, match,” Towns said. “I don’t think anyone in our team was doubting I was going to miss and I didn’t have one doubt in my mind I was going to miss either.”

With Towns back in the lineup, an already-tall Timberwolves roster gains even more size, as the center will likely share the floor with fellow bigs Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, Taurean Prince and others. Minnesota has been known to feature many of all of its taller players on the floor at the same time, a scheme the team used to great effect against Atlanta.

Coach Chris Finch noted after the game that Towns could slot perfectly back into the team’s existing style of play, as he did late in the game Wednesday.

“It’s obviously one of the beauties of KAT. You can give him the ball in a lot of places on the floor in high-leverage situations. He’s going to get a clean look, put a lot of pressure to get the foul,” Finch said.

Barring an unforeseen skid at the end of the regular season, the Timberwolves will soon begin to prepare for the playoffs after securing either a guaranteed spot or berth in the play-in tournament. The team remains a prohibitive long shot to win the NBA Championship coming out of an extremely competitive Western Conference. But with Towns likely returning to full strength by April, the team could be prepared for any test ahead.

The NBA announced two preseason games for next season, and the slate will see the Atlanta Hawks face the Milwaukee Bucks at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on October 6 and 8, 2022.

The games mark the league’s first contests in the United Arab Emirates and the Arabian Gulf.

A league press release states the games will be broadcast live in the UAE and across the Middle East and North Africa on beIN SPORTS, The Sports Channel and NBA League Pass.

The games aim to reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories.

“The NBA continues to do an amazing job of growing the game internationally, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the first NBA Abu Dhabi Games,” said Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin. “As we look toward the future of the Hawks brand, being recognized as a premier NBA franchise globally is something we aspire to, and we believe the experience for our players and staff to take in the culture in Abu Dhabi will be both incredibly memorable and impactful.”

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors dominated on Monday night, as the Atlanta Hawks continued their west coast road trip.

After an impressive first half, the Hawks once again fell flat in the second half and lost 127-113, dropping their fourth game in a row. There are many takes regarding why the Hawks couldn’t continue with their impressive start, but in reality, the Hawks’ defense didn’t have an answer for Curry, as he had 10 early points for the Warriors.

Atlanta quickly responded with a 9-0 run of their own, calming their nerves and grabbing a 12-10 lead. Trae Young and John Collins both scored double digits in the first quarter. Young had 13 points in the quarter, including a pair of three-pointers and Collins finished the quarter with 12 points.

The Hawks continued to stay in a groove in the second quarter, and two back-to-back threes from Bogdan Bogdanovic gave them a 15-point lead. They continued to move the ball efficiently, attack mismatches, and play good defense. With that, they went into halftime with a 65-61 lead, and Young finished with 21 first-half points.

Sadly, the story of the season repeats itself, and in the second half, the Hawks stopped playing for the win as they went away from moving the ball, missing shots and settling on offense. They gave up 41 points in the third quarter, and 18 points to Steph alone, finishing with 42 points after three quarters.

The Warriors continued to bring the pain upon the Hawks in the fourth quarter and extended their lead to 21 points. The Hawks tried to fight back, but shots still weren’t falling, free throws weren’t falling, and Curry couldn’t be contained as he finished the game with 50 points and 10 assists.

After a hot first-half start from Young, he only scored seven points in the second half, finishing with 28 points and nine assists. Collins only scored one point in the second half, finishing with 19 points and six rebounds.

The Hawks will be playing the Utah Jazz this Wednesday night, we hope the Hawks can rewrite history and stop choking on the second half of the game.

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins has agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal to stay with the team.

Collins is coming off a season where he averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for a Hawks team that made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals before being eliminated in six games by the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks.

He had turned down an extension worth approximately $90 million before the start of the 2020-21 season in an attempt to earn more the following summer in restricted free agency.

He was expected to get offers from several teams, with the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs showing significant interest. Once those three teams used their cap space elsewhere, the path was cleared for Collins to return to the team that drafted him with the 19th overall pick back in 2017, who improved their original offer after his contributions towards one of the best seasons in franchise history.

Star point guard Trae Young is staying put in Atlanta, signing with the Hawks for five years through the 2026-2027 season.

The deal is worth as much as $207 million. His base pay is $172 million, however if he reaches the All-Star Game he could be paid as much as $207 million.

Young played in 63 games in 2021. He averaged 25.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 9.4 assists per game while shooting an impressive 43.8 percent from the floor. He also led the entirety of the NBA in made free throws with 484.

Young’s season was also highlighted by upset victories over the Knicks and the 76ers during the NBA Playoffs. Young even notched two victories against the eventual champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Even with the signing, Atlanta still has approximately $67.5 million in cap space as well as $4.1 million in luxury tax room.

According to The Athletic, the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to engage in conversations regarding trades for point guard Ben Simmons. The 76ers reportedly have high standards and expect a huge package in return for Simmons, a three-time All-Star.

Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, has met with Philadelphia management at least once since the conclusion of the season regarding the future of his client.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons and head coach Doc Rivers have met to discuss future plans for improvement, specifically regarding the point guard’s shooting.

A majority of the blame for the 76ers’ second-round playoff series loss to the Atlanta Hawks has been directed towards Simmons, who averaged 9.9 points per game and shot 15-of-45 from the field in the series (33.3% FG). In the final three games, Simmons attempted just 14 shots, while only attempting three in the fourth quarter of the entire series.

In June, it was reported that the 76ers were committed to keeping Simmons as a major part of the franchise. Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his contract. He is still just 24 years old.

Teams around the league are speculating the 76ers’ interest in trade deals and overall expectations. An Eastern Conference executive told Sports Illustrated, “You won’t get another ‘star’ for him. They might have to attach a young player just to move him.”

“People can say he is good in all these other areas, but with today’s game, shooting is the most important skill. Are teams going to take a chance to build around a guy that is scared to shoot?” said another executive in their own interview with Sports Illustrated.

After the 76ers were knocked out of the playoffs, Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, was asked about Simmons’ future with the team. “We have a very strong group we believe in,” he said. “None of us can predict the future of what is going to happen. We love what Ben brings. We love what Joel Embiid brings. We love what Tobias Harris brings. In terms of what’s next, we’ll do what is best for the 76ers to give us the best chance to win a championship with every single player on the roster.”

The Milwaukee Bucks are now one win away from the NBA Finals after beating the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 on Thursday night. Both teams were without their main scorers in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trae Young.

Bucks’ head coach Mike Budenholzer was able to adjust the team’s offensive style in the absence of Antetokounmpo. The shift in offensive tempo allowed center Brook Lopez to shine in Thursday’s win. Lopez scored 33 points, mainly through pick-and-rolls and dunks. Lopez utilized his size advantage to wreak havoc and score from inside the paint. It was a blast from the past for the big man. Vintage Lopez used to score over 20 points, usually from the low post during his days with the Brooklyn Nets.

It was not just Lopez who contributed in the win, but it was rather a team effort. All-Star Khris Middleton produced 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Jrue Holiday had 25 points and 13 assists. Holiday ran the pick-and-rolls that allowed Lopez to score.

The Bucks were also forcing the Hawks into turnovers. Atlanta committed 14 turnovers, and Milwaukee scored 16 points off of Atlanta’s mistakes. This game was a lesson for the young Hawks. They need to fix their interior defense if they want to stay alive. Milwaukee’s defense also did a great job limiting the Hawks’ ball movement.

The Hawks were led by Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had 28 points. Bogdanovic provided a glimmer of hope but it just wasn’t enough. However, if Bogdanovic could score more when Young hopefully returns for Game 6, it will take pressure off the All-Star point guard.

Milwaukee is one win away from making the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.

Game 6 will tip-off on Saturday in Atlanta. It’s do-or-die time for the Hawks.

On Tuesday, the Atlanta Hawks easily cruised to a Game 4 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks completed a 110-88 rout of the Bucks to even the series.

Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Bucks were the favorites to win it since Hawks’ star Trae Young was ruled out just before game time due to a fluke injury. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, they were unprepared for the scoring of Lou Williams (21 points) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (20 points).

The Hawks started the game with a quick 15-5 run that set the tone for Milwaukee’s shooting woes. Williams finished the first half scoring 13 points as Atlanta held a 51-38 lead at halftime. The Hawks never trailed; it was a wire-to-wire victory.

Five minutes into the third quarter, Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game with an injury. Antetokounmpo jumped to contest an alley-oop from John Collins to Clint Capela. The star landed awkwardly on his left leg, buckling his knee. He remained on the floor for several minutes before being helped to the locker room with a noticeable limp. The two-time MVP scored 14 points in 24 minutes before leaving.

“It just looked like their legs got tangled up,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after the game. “They both landed awkwardly. That’s what I saw live. I haven’t seen anything else.”

Milwaukee called it a hyperextended left knee injury. Antetokounmpo is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.

With Antetokounmpo gone, the Hawks extended their 10-point lead behind a 15-0 run as the Bucks remained scoreless for three and a half minutes. Jrue Holiday’s 19 points led the Bucks, and Khris Middleton added 16 points. Both players shot 6 for 17 from the floor. No other Bucks player reached double digits.

Milwaukee shot an abysmal 39% from the field as a team and 21% from three-point range on 39 attempts. On top of that, Milwaukee committed 15 turnovers that led to 16 points for the Hawks. The Bucks were unable to convert Atlanta’s mistakes into buckets. The Bucks scored just four points off Atlanta’s 11 turnovers.

With the series tied 2-2, the Eastern Conference finals shift back to Milwaukee, with both teams missing their respective superstars. Young and Antetokounmpo should each be considered questionable for the upcoming critical Game 5 matchup.

The Atlanta Hawks were dealt a major blow during Sunday’s 113-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Hawks’ star Trae Young headed to the locker room with less than 30 seconds left in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.

The injury occurred on a play with less than 36 seconds left in the third quarter. Young had the ball stolen from him by Jrue Holiday, and as he turned to try and run back on defense, Young stepped back onto the referee’s foot. He sprained his ankle and stayed down until play was stopped. The Hawks’ star then went to the locker room to be examined by the team’s medical staff. He was diagnosed with an ankle sprain and given the all-clear to return to the game.

The point guard returned early in the fourth quarter but was noticeably in pain. Atlanta head coach Nate McMillan admitted that the point guard was sore. “When he came back to the bench, I was told that he was available,” McMillan said. “Once he got out there, and I saw he wasn’t moving well when I took him out for the last few seconds, he couldn’t go back. I was basically looking to rotate his offense/defense, and he just couldn’t go back.”

Before his injury, the young star was performing well on the offense. He scored 14 points in the first quarter alone. He recorded his 32 points on 11-for-19 shooting and went 5-for-11 from three-point range.

“It’s sore right now. It’s hurting. It’s frustrating,” Young said. “Yeah, it’s hurting a little bit, and it’s sore. I got some treatment on it. I’m going to go get some more in the morning. That’s all I can do right now is get treatment.”

“When I came back in, it was kind of sore. It made me mad. I couldn’t really go as fast as I wanted to, and when I did, it hurt. So I’ve just got to get treatment and hopefully get it better for the next game.”

Young will be available for Game 4 on Tuesday night in Atlanta. The Bucks currently lead the series 2-1. The Hawks are considering Game 4 a must-win game since they travel to Milwaukee for Game 5 and Game 7 if necessary.

Trae Young is no stranger to carrying the weight of offensive production on his back for his team. He did it again in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, dropping 48 points and 11 assists en route to a 116-113 Hawks win.

Young discussed his team’s mindset given their underdog reputation during this playoff run.

“We didn’t get a high seed, so we’ve got to try to steal one on the road,” Young said. “Game 1 is definitely a game that you can really surprise that team. I think with the way we’ve been playing coming out of the gate, you can just tell we’re really focused on our attention to details when it comes to the other team.”

While the Bucks had fantastic production from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, their offense was stifled by a lackluster performance from typical star Khris Middleton. Middleton sunk just 6 of his 23 shot attempts.

While both teams struggled to hit the deep ball, Young consistently made floaters and mid-range jumpers to propel his team to victory. Still, Milwaukee seemed to be in control of the game, leading 59-54 at halftime and 111-107 with just about two minutes remaining in the game. Yet, despite Holiday’s fantastic offensive night and Antetokounmpo’s presence in the paint, the Hawks battled back for the win.

John Collins connected on one of the few three-pointers made by the Hawks before Clint Capela placed in a layup after snagging an offensive rebound, putting Atlanta up 112-111. With a chance to tie the game in the final few seconds of play, Middleton continued his poor performance, missing an open three-point shot.

The Bucks look to bounce back in their second game and even the series at 1 apiece. Game 2 tips off in Milwaukee Friday night.

The Philadelphia 76ers once again had the Atlanta Hawks exactly where they wanted them – and managed to let another critical playoff game slip through their collective fingertips. The end result: an early ousting from the NBA playoffs, and Philly players watching from their couches as the Hawks battle to try and compete for an NBA championship.

The Sixers had lost two of their three home games in the series; they weren’t able to turn that abysmal homecourt performance around, falling by a score of 103-96 in Game 7.

The game was incredibly tight throughout the majority of the first half. At the end of the first two frames of action, Atlanta led by just a two-point margin, 48-46. The Sixers couldn’t muster anything on offense in the third quarter (a stark difference from their Game 6 victory), and the sluggishness of the team gifted Atlanta a five-point lead going into the final quarter of play.

Despite star Joel Embiid putting on another masterful performance, his efforts alone were not enough to push Philadelphia to victory. The rest of the lineup put up just 11 points in the final 12 minutes of the game. Even though Trae Young faltered offensively, the Hawks still managed to sneak out a win on the road in a do-or-die game.

The Hawks will face Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference Finals. They will once again be the underdog against a Bucks team that is loaded with talent.

The Atlanta Hawks were effectively cooked in Game 5 of their playoff series against the 76ers, down 26 points and looking at a must-win Game 6 to avoid elimination. By the time the final buzzer rang, though, Atlanta walked away with a victory and inched one step closer to its ultimate goal of an NBA Finals victory.

Hawks head coach Nate McMillan discussed his team’s outlook on each game they prepare for. “We always talk about playing a 48-minute game,” McMillan said. “It’s a long game. And it took all 48 minutes tonight to get it done.”

The victory in Game 5 was more impressive than the fourth matchup between the Hawks and the 76ers, but both were predicated on come-from-behind victories that were spurred by relentless play, regardless of the numbers on the scoreboard.

Trae Young was once again the sparkplug for the Hawks, dropping an offensive hammer with 39 points. Young was greatly assisted by the play of veterans Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams, with the former converting critical late-game threes and the latter scoring 13 (of his 15) points in the final frame of play.

The second straight loss for the 76ers left Sixers head coach Doc Rivers scratching his head for answers. “Listen, we scored 19 points and gave up 40,” he said, alluding to the fourth quarter. “So it’s on us. It’s on all of us. It’s on me. It’s on the players. And we have to figure out how to get back up, which we will, and bring this game back here for Game 7.”

Part of the strategy for the 76ers in the next game absolutely should include free-throw work with Ben Simmons, who is shooting a historically bad 32.8% from the line in the postseason. Joel Embiid was forced to carry the team offensively and defensively most of the night, and the 76ers will obviously look to lighten the burden on Embiid’s shoulders in Game 6.

Game 6 will be a difficult one for the 76ers, who will be on the road in Atlanta with a crowd hoping to see the Hawks clinch their second conference final berth since 1970.

It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish – this sage saying is quite fitting to describe Trae Young’s late heroics to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a victory over the 76ers, evening the series at two games apiece.

Young turned around his uncharacteristically sluggish start, ending the game with 25 points and a win for his team. His late scoring was enough to push the Hawks to a 103-100 victory, a narrow decision that has massive implications in a series that is now up for grabs.

Young was clearly nursing a shoulder injury, but he nonetheless prevailed over this pain to propel his team to victory. His efforts were helped by an unlikely source in superstar Joel Embiid, whose lackluster performance in the second half (going scoreless from the field) was a huge difference-maker as time winded down. Embiid has been playing the series with torn cartilage in his knee, which has undoubtedly adversely affected the big man’s play.

Young was helped by the efforts of Bogdan Bogdanovic (22 points) and John Collins (14 points). Some of these points were also facilitated by Young, who finished with a career-high 18 assists.

The 76ers will need to work on closing out better in Game 5, as they had an 18-point lead at halftime that they watched evaporate. Embiid continued the 76ers’ late struggles by missing a wide-open layup in the closing seconds of the final quarter. The late miss resulted in him finishing just 4 of 20 from the field overall, a stark contrast from his normal conversion rate of 51.3%.

The 76ers have a chance to regain the lead in a critical Game 5, as roughly 83% of all teams that win Game 5 in a tied series go on to win the series.

Game 5 will be on Wednesday.

The Atlanta Hawks have won their first-round series against the New York Knicks with a 103-89 victory on Wednesday. They’ll advance to face off against the Philadelphia 76ers, with Game 1 coming on Sunday in Philadelphia.

The Hawks dominated this series against the Knicks from start to finish, with Trae Young looking like a blossoming star. Young had 36 points and nine assists, while teammate and resident trash talker Clint Capela had 14 points and 15 rebounds in the Game 5 victory. Young averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists throughout the series. He controlled this series similarly to the way the player he was traded for, Luka Doncic, is controlling his series in the Western Conference. Head coach Nate McMillan knew Young was capable of this. “I texted him before the playoffs started and told him he’s built for this time of the season with the confidence he brings to the floor, his skill level for scoring the basketball and creating opportunities. It’s really tough to game plan against him,” McMillan said.

The Hawks have been on quite the run since they implemented McMillan as head coach, with a 27-11 regular season record under him, and now a playoff series win. The attention now shifts to the 76ers, the number one seed in the East and the team to beat. How do the Hawks match up? Pretty well, all things considered. The 76ers’ best player, Joel Embiid, is dealing with a small meniscus tear in his right knee. He’ll certainly be impacted by this injury during this series, and is being listed as day-to-day, meaning he potentially won’t start or play in Game 1. This obviously favors the Hawks, as in the two previous wins the 76ers have against the Hawks, Embiid was plus 26 in just under 50 minutes of play. Atlanta has not solved Embiid yet, so him being limited or not on the floor at all would be a big bonus.

Speaking of defense, ensuring Young isn’t picked on will be very important. The Knicks didn’t have the offensive weapons to accomplish this goal, but the 76ers certainly do. Making sure he isn’t switched on to the bigger Ben Simmons or Tobias Harris is vital, and making sure he isn’t forced to guard Seth Curry on the perimeter will be important as well. Young’s best match up would be chasing Danny Green, or simply switching with other perimeter players so he’s always away from the action. The Hawks could afford lapses against the Knicks, but they can’t afford those same lapses against the top-seeded Sixers.

As for the other starters, Bogan Bogdanovic will start at the two, Deandre Hunter at the three, John Collins at the four and Capela at the five. For Bogdanovic, being able to guard Curry will be paramount to the Hawks’ success. He’ll need to provide secondary creation and three point shooting as well. He averaged 14.4 points, as well as 4 assists per game in the series against the Knicks. A similar stat line in this one would be perfect. Hunter will likely garner the assignment of Simmons, which is seemingly going to be a difficult one. He’ll need to keep his stellar defense up in this series. He’s seemingly growing into a better offensive player as well, as he averaged 15 points per game in his 23 games this year.

The defense will be keyed on Young, so the surrounding Hawks have to step up. Collins and Capela against the 76ers’ front court is a crucial match up as well. They can’t allow easy buckets in the paint, and Collins must slow down the attack of Harris, who has been on a tear this season and seemingly always plays well for coach Doc Rivers. The Hawks could really upset the 76ers here if some matchups go their way and they get a little lucky.