No current New York Knicks player was part of the team during their five-game first-round loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 Eastern Conference playoffs. However, Trae Young remains with the Hawks, ensuring that Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal clash between Atlanta and New York will have a high-intensity, postseason-like atmosphere.
The winner of this game will advance to Saturday’s semifinals in Las Vegas, facing the victor of Tuesday night’s Milwaukee Bucks-Orlando Magic matchup.
The Knicks last played on Monday, mounting a fourth-quarter comeback to edge the Toronto Raptors 113-108. The Hawks, on the other hand, haven’t played since Sunday when they were defeated by the Denver Nuggets 141-111.
Both teams advanced to the NBA Cup quarterfinals by winning their respective groups. The Knicks went 4-0 in East Group A play, while the Hawks secured a 3-1 record in East Group C, clinching the title with a 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics, who also finished 3-1.
The pursuit of the in-season tournament crown hasn’t noticeably motivated the Knicks, who have become NBA title contenders under the no-nonsense head coach Tom Thibodeau. New York, which has reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in the last two seasons, hasn’t won the NBA championship since 1973.
Thibodeau remained focused on the immediate future, stating on December 3, “I’m just worried about Charlotte,” after the Knicks clinched the Group A title by defeating the Magic 121-106.
Jalen Brunson acknowledged that the prize money for reaching the knockout rounds catches everyone’s attention. Players on teams that lose in the quarterfinals receive a bonus of $51,497, while the eventual champions earn $514,971 each.
As the modern-day Reggie Miller, Trae Young thrives on being the antagonist at Madison Square Garden, much like the Indiana Pacers superstar did in the 1990s. Young doesn’t need money to get motivated against the Knicks.
In the 2021 series, Young was taunted by New York fans but continually got the last laugh. He silenced the crowd with a game-winning floater in Game 1 and averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists per game over the five-game series.
Knicks fans have even taken to booing Young on the road. He was jeered at State Farm Arena on November 6, but still scored 23 points and had 10 assists in the Hawks’ 121-116 win.
Despite the Hawks’ loss on Sunday, Young’s flair for dramatic moments remains intact. Last Friday, he became the first NBA player in at least 45 years to record at least 30 points, 20 assists, and five 3-pointers in a game. He sealed the victory with a game-winning 3-pointer in a 134-132 overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
