Madison Square Garden prepared their jeers and boos for Atlanta Hawks Trae Young, with the New York Knicks locked in for Wednesday's NBA Cup matchup. Despite the Hawks keeping it close, the Knicks' interior attack and their superstar center's defense extended the lead after two quarters to 54-47.
The Hawks began the contest colder than Young's ice-cold celebration; They missed their first eight shot attempts, but the Knicks failed to capitalize on such a drought.
Instead of taking advantage of the Hawks' sluggish start, the Knicks mustered a 28-22 lead after the first quarter.
Although the Knicks didn't dominate the Hawks regarding the scoreboard in the first half, Karl-Anthony Towns shined as the best defensive player on the court. He accumulated three steals and three blocks in an admirable Defensive Player of the Year effort.
Oddly, both teams suffered from the charity stripe. The Knicks converted only 50 percent of their free throws, while the Hawks shot 54.5 percent.
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De'Andre Hunter led the Hawks with 12 points after two quarters, with Young trailing with 10 points.
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 12 points on 5 for 8 shooting from the field.
Ultimately, Towns' defense dominated the Hawks in the first half. His combined six blocks and steals, along with his 14 rebounds, kept the Knicks up 54-47 after two quarters. Considering the close score, the second half should be an entertaining finish to the NBA Cup quarterfinal.
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This story was originally published December 11, 2024, 7:25 PM.