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The Atlanta Hawks secured a pivotal 117-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, advancing to the next stage of the NBA Cup. The victory improved the Hawks' record to 31 and clinched first place in East Group C, eliminating several teams from contention, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and last year’s NBA Cup runnersup, the Indiana Pacers.
Teams Eliminated from NBA Cup Group Play
With the Hawks' victory, several teams saw their hopes for advancing dashed. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, and Indiana Pacers were all eliminated due to losses on Friday. While the Miami Heat won their game, it wasn't enough to keep them in contention, as both the Hawks and Detroit Pistons secured victories. The Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, both with perfect 30 records, will face off on Tuesday to decide the winner of East Group B.
Leading the Hawks in scoring was De'Andre Hunter, who came off the bench to contribute 23 points. Trae Young added 20 points and 11 assists, while Jalen Johnson had a near tripledouble with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Clint Capela dominated the boards, grabbing 13 rebounds, and Dyson Daniels showcased his defensive prowess with three steals.
For the Cavaliers, Darius Garland had an impressive performance, scoring 29 points and hitting 5of8 from threepoint range. Evan Mobley added a double with 24 points and 13 rebounds. However, Donovan Mitchell struggled, finishing with just 11 points on 5for23 shooting, while also registering 11 rebounds and six assists.
Lakers on the Brink of Elimination After Loss to Thunder
The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are now in danger of being eliminated from the NBA Cup following a 101-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Shai Gilgeous Alexander led the Thunder with a stellar 36point performance, while Isaiah Hartenstein contributed a season high 17 rebounds.
This loss left the Lakers at 22 in Group B, needing help from other teams to advance. Meanwhile, the Thunder improved to 21, putting them in a stronger position. The Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, both at 11, still have positive point differentials, but the Lakers' minus24 point differential could be a critical factor if tiebreakers are needed.
With no more games remaining for the Lakers, they will need several results to go their way to continue their defense of the NBA Cup title.
Celtics Keep NBA Cup Hopes Alive with Win Over Bulls
The Boston Celtics stayed alive in their group play with a dramatic 138-129 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Celtics, who were at risk of elimination with a loss, could still make it to the next stage of the tournament with the victory.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 35 points and 14 rebounds, shooting 4of8 from threepoint range. Peyton Pritchard provided a strong spark off the bench, scoring 29 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis each added 21 points to help Boston secure the win.
Boston's win kept them alive in the race for East Group C, but they still needed the Hawks to lose in order to clinch the group. Unfortunately for the Bulls, a win would not have been enough for them to advance, as the Cavaliers also lost to the Hawks.
Knicks Edge Out Hornets in Nail-Biting Finish
In another closely contested game, the New York Knicks eliminated the Charlotte Hornets from the NBA Cup with a 99-98 victory. The Hornets, missing star player LaMelo Ball due to illness, were unable to hold on in a tight game that came down to the final seconds.
Key Takeaways
Hawks' Dominance: The Atlanta Hawks clinched first place in East Group C with their win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, advancing to the next stage of the NBA Cup.
Lakers' Struggles: The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are at risk of elimination after a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their fate now depends on the outcome of other games.
Celtics Keep Hopes Alive: With a crucial win over the Chicago Bulls, the Boston Celtics stay in contention for a spot in the next stage of the NBA Cup.
