The Atlanta Hawks’ trip to Madison Square Garden in New York for an NBA Cup quarterfinal game began a new chapter in the rivalry between Trae Young and the New York Knicks. The Hawks defeated the New York Knicks 108-100 to secure their spot in the Las Vegas semifinals.
At center court, Trae Young pretended to toss dice on the Knicks logo as time ran out, and he guided the Hawks to yet another significant victory in New York. Young had so much fun in the fourth quarter that he skipped down center court after making a basket.
Since the Hawks defeated the Knicks as the lower seed in the first round of the 2021 Playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Thanks to a masterclass from Trae Young, he has been a recurring antagonist in New York. He averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists in that series, defeating the Knicks at home and submitting to the furious supporters.
The notorious ‘F**k Trae Young’ chants, which have echoed at practically every game Trae has played in New York since, originated from that series. Since the 2021 Playoffs, he has a 5-6 record versus the Knicks.
Trae Young Is Leading Atlanta Hawks To A Very Successful Season So Far
With this victory, the Hawks’ record now stands at 14-12, matching them for the sixth spot in the East with their NBA Cup Semi-Final opponents. After a sluggish start to the season, the Hawks have risen in the standings, winning seven of their past eight games. This season, Young is averaging 21.0 points and 12.2 assists. The rise of Jalen Johnson, who averages 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, has made up for his decreased scoring production.
The Hawks, who must qualify for the playoffs this season because they do not own their first-round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, have a bright future thanks to these up-and-coming players and Trae.
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Moments like today further solidify Young’s reputation as a top MSG villain, which hasn’t been helped by his combative post-game remarks following previous games, even if the Knicks have defeated Trae and the Hawks since the Playoff clash. We’ll have to wait until the next Knicks game to have more drama unfold amid this rivalry.
