ATLANTA — For one evening, at the least, the Atlanta Hawks seemed just like the staff that made a surprising run to the Jap Convention ultimate final summer season.
Trae Younger bounced again from a sluggish begin to rating 24 factors and De’Andre Hunter led a third-quarter surge Wednesday that carried the Hawks to a 132-103 rout of the Charlotte Hornets in a play-in recreation.
“We’re positively assured proper now,” Hunter stated. “However we’ve bought much more work to do. We’re not happy but.”
The Hawks had been a little bit of a disappointment through the common season, ending ninth within the East after their stunning playoff success in 2021.
They’ve nonetheless bought to win yet another play-in recreation simply to make the playoffs, heading to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Friday evening. The winner claims the No. 8 seed within the East and can face the top-seeded Miami Warmth within the opening spherical of the playoffs.
The season is over for the Hornets, who had been overwhelmed within the 9-10 play-in recreation for the second yr in a row and haven’t made the playoffs since 2016.
Nonetheless, coach James Borrego referred to as it one other step ahead for a rebuilding staff.
“A number of good issues have occurred for this franchise based mostly on the place we’re at in the present day in comparison with the place we had been two or three years in the past,” he stated.
Miles Bridges was ejected within the fourth quarter and could possibly be dealing with further punishment from the league workplace after he appeared to strike a younger fan along with his mouthpiece.
All 5 Atlanta starters scored in double figures, as did Bogdan Bogdanovic off the bench. It was Hunter who got here up massive within the decisive third interval, bursting out with 16 factors after being held to three within the first half.
“I feel I’m a giant a part of this staff,” Hunter stated. ”Me being aggressive, scoring and defending, helps this staff so much.”
Hunter completed with 22 factors, whereas Danilo Gallinari added 18 and Clint Capela 15. Kevin Huerter and Bogdanovic chipped in with 13 apiece.
The Hornets closed the common season sturdy and felt like they'd a superb probability to win a few play-in video games on the highway. However these hopes got here crashing down towards their I-85 rival.
LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 26 factors on 7-of-25 taking pictures.
The Hawks led by 13 within the first half earlier than settling for a 60-52 benefit on the break. Charlotte had a little bit of momentum within the closing minutes of the half, however it positive didn’t carry over to the third.
The Hawks outscored the Hornets 42-24 throughout that 12-minute barrage, hitting 16 of 24 photographs, and led 102-76 heading to the ultimate interval.
With the Hornets doubling at each alternative, Younger made only one of 9 photographs within the opening quarter and three of 13 within the first half.
However his teammates discovered loads of open appears to be like and made the Hornets pay dearly.
“It’s nice for my staff,'” stated Younger, who had 11 assists. “If you can also make two guys guard you, it solely opens up the ground for everyone else. I've to embrace it.”
Charlotte ought to’ve recognized what sort of evening it could be on their technique to State Farm Area.
The Hornets’ chartered bus was blocked by a freight prepare that stopped on a crossing close to the downtown sports activities complicated. The bus needed to flip round and take a distinct path to the sector, delaying Charlotte’s arrival for pregame warmups.
It didn’t get a lot better as soon as the sport tipped off.
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