Dyson Daniels is headed to the NBA Cup semi-finals in Las Vegas after helping the Atlanta Hawks to extend their surprising run with a 108-100 win over the New York Knicks.
The young Australian star scored nine points and added seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in New York on Wednesday night as the Hawks set up a meeting with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in their semi on Saturday.
Later, compatriot Jock Landale joined Daniels in the last four as hosts the Houston Rockets snatched a one-point victory over Golden State Warriors, emerging 91-90 winners.
But in New York, Trae Young led the way with 22 points and 11 assists while De'Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson outplayed the Knicks frontcourt in the quarter-final.
Hunter scored 24 points and Johnson had 21 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for the Hawks, who were perhaps the surprise team of the tournament after knocking off the defending champion Celtics in Boston and NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in group play to reach the knockout stage as the No.3 seed in the East.
Josh Hart scored 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 19 rebounds for the Knicks, who went 4-0 in group play and shot out to a 12-point lead on Wednesday.
But as in the 2021 playoffs, it was Young who was celebrating on the floor of Madison Square Garden after eliminating the Knicks.
And now they have the chance to go all the way with two more wins in Las Vegas.
The Knicks had a shockingly poor second half - outscored 61-46 - and fell to 0-2 against Atlanta this season.
They led 66-62 before Young scored eight straight points, pointing to the floor after a 31-footer for his second consecutive 3-pointer. Hunter then hit a 3 to cap an 11-0 surge during which Atlanta took their first lead of the game and went ahead 73-66.
In Houston, Jalen Green made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to steer the Rockets to the NBA Cup semis.
Houston snapped a 15-game skid against the Warriors, winning for the first time in the series since February 20, 2020. The Rockets will face Oklahoma City, who beat Dallas in the other West quarter-final on Tuesday night, in the last four on Saturday.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points and 11 rebounds and Jabari Smith Jr. added 15 points.
Houston led by 14 before falling behind late to set up the thrilling finish.
Houston trailed by six with about 1 1/2 minutes left before Fred VanVleet made a 3-pointer and Sengun added a layup with 27 seconds to go to cut the lead to one.
Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left and Gary Payton II grabbed the rebound, but Green intercepted his pass and was fouled by Jonathan Kuminga to set up the winning free throws.
The Warriors had a chance to win it at the buzzer but Smith blocked Brandin Podziemski's 3-point attempt.
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