CLEVELAND — The top assist leader in the NBA delivered a rare defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Trae Young notched a career-high 22 assists—the highest in the league this season—leading the Atlanta Hawks to a surprising 135-124 victory over the Cavaliers on Thursday night. With this loss, Cleveland’s impressive record dropped to 17-2, marking their first home defeat after winning the previous 10 games in their arena this season.
Young, renowned for his long-range shooting, also connected on a 39-foot 3-pointer in the crucial final two minutes, helping the Hawks end their three-game losing streak and securing their second significant road win; their first was against the defending champion Boston Celtics in a game earlier in November.
The assist tally surpasses the 21 assists posted by New Orleans guard Elfrid Payton earlier in the week against Indiana, and it falls just short of the Hawks’ franchise record of 23 assists, set by Mookie Blaylock in a match against Utah in March 1993.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder praised Young’s performance, noting how he immersed himself in the game. “The biggest thing is he just moved the ball, and he forced guys to run. He gave guys opportunities in the open court and he trusted his teammates,” Snyder commented.
In the fourth quarter alone, Young delivered eight assists, guiding the Hawks as they outperformed the Cavaliers in the closing moments of the game. He supplied De’Andre Hunter with assists for two of his baskets, set up Dyson Daniels for another score, and successfully executed two free throws to lift the Hawks’ lead to 126-118. Although Young lost control of the ball briefly, a subsequent 3-pointer by Ty Jerome cut Cleveland’s deficit to 126-122.
Young quickly regained his composure, recovering the loose ball and then sank a deep 3-pointer just inside the half-court line, which extended Atlanta’s lead to seven points. “I couldn’t let my team down twice in a row, so I had to make the play,” Young remarked. “When I got the ball back, I still had 10 seconds left, so I had a little time to make a play and that’s what happened.”
His clutch shot sent the Cleveland crowd into silence, with Young following the moment by signaling for quiet with a finger to his lips. The Hawks have come to expect these game-changing moments from Young, a three-time All-Star known for thriving in high-pressure situations. While often lauded for his shooting prowess, it’s his outstanding passing skills that frequently go unnoticed.
Hunter, who contributed significantly with 26 points, noted, “For the smallest guy on the floor, he sees it really well. He makes on-time passes, usually where guys can shoot it and we made a lot of shots tonight.” Snyder emphasized the importance of Young’s calm leadership during critical stages of the game. “I really liked the way we and he reacted to being down,” Snyder said. “Just keeping his poise—that’s always been a point of emphasis with Trae.”
After the game, Young appeared in the media room cradling a basketball as if safeguarding it. When questioned about reaching a personal best in assists, he replied, “I didn’t until just now. Thank you.”