ATLANTA — In the NBA Cup match-up, De’Andre Hunter delivered a stellar performance off the bench, scoring 23 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 117-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, marking the Cavs’ second defeat in three days.

Despite holding onto the best record in the NBA at 17-3, the Cavaliers struggled to keep pace with the Hawks’ impressive scoring depth. Trae Young contributed significantly with 21 points and 11 assists, while Jalen Johnson also made a notable contribution with 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, helping Atlanta achieve a total of six players in double figures.

For Cleveland, Darius Garland was the standout scorer with 29 points, and Evan Mobley made an impactful presence with 24 points, highlighted by seven dunks. Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, Atlanta also bested Cleveland with a score of 135-124, during which Young set a personal best with 22 assists, further solidifying his position as the league leader in assists at an average of 12.5 per game.

Key takeaways from the game include the difficulties faced by Cavaliers’ star Donovan Mitchell, who was effectively defended by Dyson Daniels and missed his initial ten shooting attempts. He eventually landed two three-pointers just before the end of the first half, but concluded the game with only 12 points on 5-of-23 shooting alongside 11 rebounds. Furthermore, after sidelining for four games due to managing a left knee injury, Caris LeVert returned with an eight-point contribution.

Hunter’s efforts were pivotal in allowing Atlanta’s bench to outperform Cleveland’s reserves significantly, scoring 50 points compared to the Cavs’ 28.

A crucial moment arose during the third quarter when Clint Capela, after a halftime lead of 52-50, scored three consecutive baskets. This spurt was instrumental in the Hawks extending their lead to 67-57.

A noteworthy statistic from the game shows that Atlanta equaled its scoring high for a quarter this season, amassing 39 points in the third, while limiting Cleveland to just 23. This matched the team’s 39-point effort in the second quarter of a previous game against the New York Knicks.

Looking ahead, the Cavaliers are set to face the Boston Celtics at home on Sunday, while the Hawks will travel to play the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.