LAS VEGAS — The Atlanta Hawks were on the brink of continuing their surprising journey in the NBA Cup, aiming for a place in Tuesday’s final. All they needed was a strong finish, but their offense faltered at a crucial moment, managing to score just 19 points in the fourth quarter during a tough semifinal defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks, which ended at 110-102.
In the final quarter, the Hawks struggled significantly, being outscored by nine points while only converting 5 of their 16 shot attempts. Their shooting woes worsened as they missed six of their last seven shots, leaving them unable to capitalize on potential scoring opportunities. “I know there were a few that were really good shots and we had to work for them,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder reflected. “That said, I think we know whatever that is — it could be on the margins — there are certain things that we need to do better.” He further emphasized that the journey to Las Vegas was commendable, even though the team faced challenges making shots throughout the game. “I think the storyline for me is just how we competed.”
The Hawks reached this stage by securing a 3-1 record during group play, which notably included a nail-biting 117-116 victory against the defending champions, Boston. Following that, they overcame the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals with a score of 108-100. In a moment of exhilaration after the Knicks win, star player Trae Young playfully mimicked rolling dice at Madison Square Garden, but he didn’t have such celebration available in Las Vegas, even with a large contingent of Hawks fans supporting them.
Young believes that despite the semifinal setback, Atlanta took valuable insights from their experience, emphasizing that the Eastern Conference is competitive beyond just the Celtics, Knicks, and the impressive Cavaliers, a team the Hawks also managed to defeat. “I think what we have done in this Cup was really, really special,” said Young, who came close to achieving a fourth career triple-double with his 35 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. “I think we’ve really found the way we want to play and figured out the tempo we want to play at and things like that.” He expressed optimism that this tournament performance could build momentum for their regular season.
However, he also pointed out the opportunities that slipped away in the fourth quarter, which could have enhanced the overall significance of their run in the NBA Cup. Jalen Johnson, who contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “We showed throughout this whole Cup that we belong. We can compete with the best of them. Unfortunately, today we came up short. It’s just going to give us a lot to learn from moving forward. Especially down the stretch in those last five, six minutes, I’ve definitely got to be better.”
He concluded with a positive note about their potential growth as a team, expressing pride in their accomplishments and resilience. “Just as a team, we’ve got a lot of room to grow, but I’m proud of everybody. We defeated a lot of odds coming in, making it all the way to Vegas. There’s nothing to hang our heads about. We’ve just got to keep moving in the right direction.”
