CLEVELAND (AP) — When the ultimate horn sounded and Trae Younger’s work was accomplished, he slammed the ball off the ground, sending it spinning skyward. He then turned and waved goodbye to the Cleveland followers retreating to the exits.
So chilly.
Ice Trae stings once more.
Younger scored 32 of his 38 factors within the second half and the Atlanta Hawks overcame shedding middle Clint Capela to a knee damage to beat the Cavaliers 107-101 within the play-in on Friday night time and earn the Japanese Convention’s No. 8 playoff seed.
Younger began slowly for the second straight sport, however the All-Star with the chilly nickname for his potential to take over video games with one of many NBA’s deadliest capturing strokes heated up when it mattered most.
“He made photographs from the leap circle,” marveled Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Younger scored 16 factors in third quarter to rally the Hawks from a 10-point halftime deficit, and added one other 16 within the fourth to complete off the Cavs, whose inexperience confirmed all through the second half.
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 19 factors for Atlanta, which can play No. 1 seed Miami within the first spherical. Recreation 1 is Sunday in South Florida.
“We took care of enterprise,” Younger mentioned. “It’s a testomony to our staff that we stored combating and completed the job.”
The Hawks, who made it to the convention finals a 12 months in the past, could must go ahead with out Capela. The 6-foot-10 middle hyperextended his proper knee late within the first half, needed to be helped from the ground and couldn’t return.
Capela’s loss compelled the entire Hawks to step up, particularly on the boards. But it surely was Younger, making 10 of his final 14 photographs, who stored their season alive.
“Trae has a substantial amount of confidence in his sport, his potential and he continued to consider,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan mentioned. “I didn’t see any panic in his play. He got here out within the second half, remained aggressive. These photographs began to fall, the identical photographs that he was taking the primary half, they began to fall within the second half.”
Lauri Markkanen scored 26 and Darius Garland 21 for the younger Cavaliers, whose sudden season fell simply shy of a playoff berth.
Cleveland hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2018, and the Cavs haven’t been to the postseason with out LeBron James on their roster since 1998.
As if so as to add insult to damage, James tweeted an emoji of an ice dice within the closing seconds — a nod to Younger — because the Hawks have been ending Cleveland’s turnaround season.
Lifted by a rowdy, towel-waving crowd in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs have been in place to advance and performed properly in lengthy stretches. Nevertheless, Cleveland’s offense slowed down within the third quarter, and the Cavs had no reply defensively for Younger.
“The ball wasn’t popping and there was lots of isolation and standing nonetheless,” Bickerstaff mentioned of his staff’s troubles after halftime.
The Cleveland followers who stayed till the tip saluted the Cavs, who weren’t anticipated to get this far after profitable simply 22 video games final season. Whereas they’ve been relegated to lottery picks and shedding since James left after a four-year run to the NBA Finals 4 years in the past, the long run in Cleveland is vibrant.
“We’re headed in the fitting course, for positive,” Bickerstaff mentioned. “We achieved so much this 12 months.”
With the season on the road, Cleveland bought an enormous emotional and defensive raise by the return of All-Star middle Jarrett Allen, who had missed the earlier 19 video games with a damaged finger on his left hand. Allen completed with 11 factors.
The Hawks have been in massive hassle late within the third quarter, when Younger lastly heated up.
Ignoring some vulgar chants by Cleveland followers, the dazzling guard made a pair of 3-pointers and scored Atlanta’s remaining 12 factors within the quarter because the Hawks closed with a 17-8 run over the ultimate 3:48 to tie it 84-all going into to the ultimate 12 minutes.
Within the fourth, Younger answered each Cleveland run with one among his personal, flattening floaters or attending to the rim for layups, just like the Hawks have appear him accomplish that many occasions earlier than.
“That’s why he will get paid the massive bucks.” De’Andre Hunter mentioned.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Danilo Gallinari added 14 factors. … Younger averaged 32.5 factors in 4 video games towards Cleveland within the common season. … F/C John Collins (finger, foot) and Lou Williams (again) each sat out. … Dedicated a league-low 11.9 turnovers per sport through the common season.
Cavaliers: Kevin Love solely performed 10 minutes — one within the second half. … Cleveland’s 22-win enchancment was the second greatest in membership historical past. The 1991-92 Cavs made a 24-game leap.
CLEVELAND ROCKS
It was a unprecedented sports activities night time — and one other unhappy one — in Cleveland.
Whereas the Hawks and Cavaliers tangled with a postseason spot up for grabs, the Guardians performed their first residence sport since altering their identify subsequent door at Progressive Area.
The doubleheader was paying homage to 2016, when the Cavs acquired the NBA title rings on opening night time as Cleveland’s baseball staff, then known as the Indians, hosted a World Sequence sport.
UP NEXT
Hawks: Atlanta went 1-3 vs. Miami through the season.
Cavaliers: Extra time to relaxation up after an injury-ravaged season.
