The Atlanta Hawks hosted an intense battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers this past Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Held at the State Farm Arena in the heart of Atlanta Georgia, Trae Young and his squad managed to slip away with a much-needed 124-116 victory against their opponents. With this win, the Hawks now hold a new 27-30 record for the 2021-2022 season as they propel themselves to becoming the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference; they sit directly underneath the Charlotte Hornets and above the Washington Wizards.
Star point guard and starter in this year’s NBA All-Star game, Trae Young, had himself a hard-earned 41-point game, accompanied by 3 rebounds and 9 assists over the course of just 35 minutes of action. Atlanta was able to maintain a steady lead throughout the entirety of the second and third quarter before inevitably managing to finish strong at the conclusion of the regulation period. Forward Danilo Gallinari aided in his team’s victory this past Tuesday night with his necessary 25 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Kevin Huerter also combined for a total of 41 points on the night.
Despite their loss, Cleveland still put up a valiant fight and unexpectedly commenced the first quarter with a 2-point lead, however it was all downhill from there. Evan Mobley put up a double-double for himself that consisted of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists over the span of only 35 minutes on the floor. First-time All-Star Darius Garland also made his appearances throughout the night as he assisted his squad with his well-deserved 30 points, 2 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Cleveland Cavaliers currently sit at the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference as they now focus their attention towards their next matchup against the Detroit Pistons this upcoming Thursday, February 24.