Hawks hovering, Cavs skidding forward of key matchup
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Hawks each have the playoffs on their minds forward of their Thursday assembly in Atlanta.
The Cavaliers (42-34), at present the seventh-place workforce within the Jap Convention, are attempting to catch the Toronto Raptors and escape the play-in match.
Cleveland took a 120-112 loss to the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday to fall two video games behind the Raptors, who beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 125-102. The Cavaliers have misplaced 4 of their previous 5 contests.
The Hawks, sitting in tenth place, have their eyes on catching the eighth-place Brooklyn Nets and the ninth-place Charlotte Hornets. Atlanta beat the host Oklahoma City Thunder 136-118 on Wednesday for its third straight win. The Hawks path Charlotte by a half-game and Brooklyn by one sport.
The Hawks lead the season sequence with the Cavaliers 2-1, having received the previous two matchups, most not too long ago 124-116 in Atlanta on Feb. 15 when Trae Young produced 41 factors and 9 assists.
Younger was at it once more on Wednesday, scoring 41 towards Oklahoma Metropolis whereas his mom and father watched from courtside in his residence state. It was his tenth 40-point efficiency of the season and his fourth over the previous 9 video games.
“We were focused coming into the game, just ready to play, just ready to take care of business,” Younger stated. “We only have a few of these regular-season games left, so we’ve got to take care of every one.”
Younger scored 30 factors within the first half to assist Atlanta to an 85-58 lead at intermission, essentially the most factors the Hawks have scored in a primary half in franchise historical past.
Atlanta had six gamers end with double-figure level totals, together with Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic with 20 every and seldom-used Kevin Knox II with 17, essentially the most he has scored since becoming a member of the Hawks in January.
“That’s what we’ve been doing all season long,” Atlanta coach Nate McMillan stated. “Guys have been in and out of the lineup and guys continue to get opportunities and they’re taking advantage of it. We needed (Knox) tonight with all our forwards being out, and he stepped up and played really well. Those were really good minutes.”
Cleveland’s Darius Garland made historical past on Wednesday when he scored 25 factors, changing into the fourth Cavs participant to attain 3,000 profession factors earlier than his twenty third birthday. The others had been LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Collin Sexton.
Garland scored 30 factors towards the Hawks within the final assembly. In 14 video games in March, he’s averaging 25.7 factors and 10.9 assists.
Caris LeVert paced Cleveland with 32 factors towards the Mavericks, his highest whole since arriving from the Indiana Pacers in a February commerce.
“This is who Caris is,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated. “It was just a matter of time.”
The Cavaliers might be with out rookie Evan Mobley in Atlanta. He missed the Wednesday sport resulting from a sprained left ankle and certain might be sidelined for 2 extra contests.
“It’s a test of character that our guys have passed time and time again,” Bickerstaff stated. “Our guys don’t quit.”
–Area Stage Media
