2 weeks Ago By Field Level Media
Trae Young recorded a career-high 22 assists to go along with 20 points, helping the Atlanta Hawks hand the Cleveland Cavaliers their first home loss of the season, 135-124 on Wednesday. Atlanta's De'Andre Hunter drained five 3-pointers to highlight his 26-point performance and Jalen Johnson collected 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Top overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher joined Bogdan Bogdanovic by scoring 17 points apiece for the Hawks, who overcame an early 19-point deficit to snap a three-game losing streak.
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Evan Mobley collected 22 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and three blocks for the Cavaliers, who fell to 10-1 at home. Cleveland's Darius Garland recorded 19 points and seven assists and Jarrett Allen added 17 points and 10 rebounds. The teams will meet again in Atlanta on Friday.
Mitchell sank his fourth 3-pointer to stake the Cavaliers to a 109-102 lead before the Hawks answered with a flourish. Johnson and Hunter each drained a 3-pointer before Young converted from well beyond the arc to cap a 13-0 run for a six-point edge with 5:49 to go. Cleveland tried to counter later when Ty Jerome stole the ball and sank a 3-pointer to trim Atlanta's lead to 126-122 with 1:43 remaining.
Young responded with a 3-pointer from 39 feet and then set up Onyeka Okongwu's layup with 54 seconds to play. Atlanta was nursing a 98-93 lead late in the third quarter before Cleveland countered with a 16-4 run that spanned into the fourth. Mitchell made two 3-pointers, a layup and two free throws in that stretch.
Cleveland bolted out of the blocks by scoring the game's first 10 points. The Cavaliers boosted their lead to 27-8 following consecutive 3-pointers by Jerome and Isaac Okoro before the Hawks responded with a flourish. Hunter and Bogdanovic each converted twice from beyond the arc as Atlanta forged a 35-35 tie at the end of the first quarter.
This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission..
