De’Andre Hunter on Friday scored 23 points off the bench as the Atlanta Hawks beat the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers to advance in the NBA Cup.
The Hawks, who on Wednesday handed the Cavs their first home defeat of the season, came out on top at home, parlaying a 52-50 halftime lead into a 117-101 triumph.
It was enough to put Atlanta into the NBA Cup knockout rounds as winners of their group after the Boston Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 138-129. NBA champions the Celtics maintained their wildcard hopes with their win.
Photo: AFP
Trae Young scored 21 points and handed out 11 assists, while Jalen Johnson chipped in 20 points for Atlanta, who had six players score in double figures.
Darius Garland scored 29 points for Cleveland and Evan Mobley added 24 points for the Cavs, who opened the season on a 15-0 tear and at 17-3 still boast the best record in the league.
The Hawks held Cavs star Donovan Mitchell to 12 points and out-scored Cleveland 39-23 in the third quarter to take control for good in the contest that was one of 10 NBA Cup group stage games on Friday.
“They outplayed us,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said after the Cavaliers were held to their lowest points total of the season. “Sometimes you just have to call it like you see it.”
The Los Angeles Lakers, who won the inaugural edition of the Cup last season, were essentially eliminated from the in-season tournament after falling 101-93 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter for Oklahoma City, draining a three-pointer that put the Thunder up 95-91 with 1 minute, 35 seconds remaining.
Gilgeous-Alexander added a pair of free throws and Jalen Williams came up with a steal and a dunk as the Thunder kept the Lakers at bay.
Dalton Knecht was the Lakers’ top scorer with 20 points. Anthony Davis added 15 and LeBron James scored 12 points, but produced five of the Lakers’ 17 turnovers.
The New York Knicks, buoyed by Jalen Brunson’s fourth-quarter heroics, improved to 3-0 in Cup play with a 99-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets challenged despite missing five of their top six scorers, with LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Tre Mann, Grant Williams, Mark Williams and Nick Richards all sidelined.
“Outside looking in, you’re thinking they’ve got some key guys out, so this is supposed to be an easy game. That’s not how the NBA works,” New York’s Josh Hart told reporters after the game.
The win left the Knicks tied atop their group with the Orlando Magic, who beat the Brooklyn Nets 123-100. The Knicks and Magic are to face off for the group crown on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, the Minnesota Timberwolves halted their four-game losing streak with a 93-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Ja Morant scored 27 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr added 23 and reserve Santi Aldama had 20 points to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to their first NBA Cup victory, a 120-109 win over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans.
Memphis entered with an 0-6 record in NBA Cup play over the competition’s two seasons.
Cade Cunningham returned from an injury to put up 24 points as the Detroit Pistons remained unbeaten in the NBA Cup while also formally eliminating the defending runners-up with a 130-106 win over Indiana Pistons in Indianapolis.
Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 26 points as hosts the Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 121-111.
The Heat (2-2) and the Raptors (0-3) are out of contention for the NBA Cup.
Deandre Ayton recorded 26 points and nine rebounds to help the Portland Trail Blazers cruise to a 115-106 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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