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Game 3: Hawks cruise to a 105-93 victory over the Knicks

By Yakiri Thomas / May 30, 2021
Photo Courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks


The Atlanta Hawks dominated the Knicks with a 105-94 victory, at Sate Farm Arena on Friday.

The victory marked Atlanta’s first home postseason victory over the Knicks in franchise history.

An evenly-played first quarter saw nine ties and a perfect free-throw shooting performance from the visiting Knicks. Derrick Rose led all players with 11 points in the first 12 minutes. Nerlens Noel knocked down all six of his free throws in the first quarter, helping New York to a 13-5 advantage in attempts from the charity stripe in the opening period. Atlanta limited the Knicks to .333 FG% and .250 3FG%, but New York’s 13-13 FTs propelled them to a 31-29 lead after one. Trae Young had nine points and five assists for the Hawks, who got six points on 2-2 3FGs from Danilo Gallinari . The Hawks went on a 29-11 run (including a 22-3 stretch) to take a 58-44 lead into halftime . Young recorded 14 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers through two quarters, making him the first Hawks player with 10-or-more assists and zero turnovers in a playoff half since at least 1997 . Atlanta held New York to .302 FG% and .286 3FG% in the first half, while shooting .535 FG% and .600 3FG% themselves. The clubs played to a 28-all draw in the third period, with Atlanta shooting .632 FG% and .600 3FG% . Atlanta led by as many 17 in the third quarter and entered the fourth quarter with an 86-72 lead and cruised to an easy victory after a 19-point fourth quarter.

All eight Hawks players who scored posted at least nine points, including seven with 10-or-more.

Bogdan Bogdanovic collected 15 points, 8 rebounds, while Clint Capela channeled his inner Dikembe Mutombo finger wave and posted his first double-double of the postseason, totaling 13 points, 12 boards and two blocks in 34 minutes.

 

https://twitter.com/atlhawks/status/1398708426067386376?s=21


After scoring 32 points in Game 1, 30 in Game 2 and 21 in Game 3 on Friday, Trae Young’s 83 points are the most in Atlanta postseason history by a player in his first three postseason contests. Through the first three postseason games of his career, Trae Young is averaging 27.7 points and 10.3 assists, placing him alongside Kevin Johnson, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson as the only players to record more than 30 assists in their first three career playoff games.

Forward /center John Collins landed the first basket and finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds.

 

Before the game Collins became  the recipient of the inaugural Sekou Smith Award, which annually honors the player on the team’s roster who best represents themselves and the franchise with professionalism and integrity in their interactions with the media.

Collins was selected via a vote from a select local media panel. In addition to the award, the Hawks will name the media workroom at State Farm Arena after Smith, redesigning the space to honor his memory. The Sekou Smith Press Room will formally open to media for the 2021-22 NBA season.

The team will also launch an annual Hawks-NBA Summer League internship in Smith’s name. Each summer, a journalism or multi-media student from a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) school will be selected to serve as the Hawks’ beat writer for NBA Summer League, and their work will appear on the team’s digital team properties, providing valuable experience and clips.

Up Next: The Hawks will return back to State Farm arena on Today in hopes of gaining home court advantage in Game 4. Tip off is at 1:00 PM.

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