Hawks Wrap Up NBA Cup Group Play With Convincing Win Over Cavaliers

The Atlanta Hawks closed out their group play in the Emirates NBA Cup 2024 in dominant fashion, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-101 at State Farm Arena. With the victory, the Hawks finished group play with a 3-1 record, earning wins over Boston, Washington, and Cleveland. Over the two back-to-back wins against the Cavaliers, Atlanta showcased its offensive firepower, averaging 126 points, 36 assists, and 52 rebounds while shooting 49.5% from the field, 44.7% from three, and 88.4% from the free-throw line.

Team Effort Powers Hawks to Victory

The Hawks’ ball movement continues to set them apart this season, with Atlanta dishing out 33 assists in the win, marking their 12th game with at least 30 assists, an NBA best. The team has now recorded 25+ assists in 12 consecutive games, a franchise record, and 20+ assists in 59 straight home games, the third-longest streak in franchise history.

Atlanta’s bench also shined, outscoring Cleveland’s reserves 50-28. This marks the 10th time this season the Hawks’ bench has outperformed their opponents, with Atlanta’s second unit averaging 39.1 points per game—sixth-best in the league.

Standout Performances

De’Andre Hunter led all scorers with a team-high 23 points off the bench, shooting 58.3% from the floor and 57.1% from deep. He added five rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes, marking the first time in his career he has scored 23+ points in consecutive games.

Jalen Johnson continued his impressive stretch, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The forward has now scored 20+ points in four straight games, the second-longest such streak of his career.

Trae Young contributed 21 points and 11 assists, his 218th career point/assist double-double, putting him just two away from tying Lenny Wilkens for 22nd on the NBA’s all-time list. Young’s streak of five or more assists now sits at 180 consecutive games, the third-longest in NBA history.

Bogdan Bogdanović added 10 points and six rebounds, extending his streak of games with at least one three-pointer to 97. He is just two games away from tying Jordan Clarkson for the fifth-longest such streak in NBA history.

Clint Capela dominated the glass with 13 rebounds while contributing eight points, three blocks, and two steals. His three blocks tied him with Kevin Willis for ninth-most in Hawks franchise history.

Dyson Daniels filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. Daniels recorded his NBA-leading ninth game with three or more steals, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top defensive guards.

Cleveland’s Efforts Fall Short

Despite the loss, Cleveland’s Darius Garland poured in a game-high 29 points, shooting 57.9% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc. Evan Mobley notched his ninth double-double of the season, tallying 24 points and 12 rebounds.

What’s Next

The Atlanta Hawks (9-11) hit the road to face the Charlotte Hornets (6-13) tonight at 6:00 PM. Atlanta will look to build on their recent momentum as they continue their quest for consistency in the regular season.