Trae Young Says 'I'm All for the Biggest Moments' After 48-Point Game in Game 1
Jun 24, 2021
Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young plays during Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Thanks to Trae Young's 48-point performance, the Atlanta Hawks won their first conference finals game in franchise history on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The star didn't bat an eye when he was asked about his outing after the 116-113 victory at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum:
Hawks’ Trae Young after 48 points in ECF Game 1 win over Bucks: “I’m all for the biggest moments.” pic.twitter.com/ll86OycFkJ
Young also posted 11 assists and seven rebounds, with help from John Collins' 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Young had 25 points in the first half as the Hawks trailed 59-54. It was a second-half resurgence from Collins that provided him with the backup the Hawks needed to get past the Bucks.
By scoring or assisting on 72 points during the game, Young set an NBA record. That total is the most by any player in any conference or division finals game in league history, perElias Sports Bureau(h/t ESPN Stats and Info).
At 22 years, 278 days old, he is also the second-youngest player to drop at least 45 points with at least 10 rebounds in a playoff game.
For Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 34 points with 12 rebounds and nine assists, and Jrue Holiday was right behind him with 33 points, 10 assists and four rebounds.
Game 2 is Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Trae Young Leads Hawks to Game 1 Comeback Win vs. Giannis, Jrue Holiday, Bucks
Jun 24, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 23: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts to a foul by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals at Fiserv Forum on June 23, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Hawks are three wins away from the NBA Finals.
Atlanta struck first with a 116-113 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Wednesday's Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Fiserv Forum. Trae Young dazzled and led the way for the Hawks, who looked much better than when they lost two of their three regular-season games against the Bucks.
While Young and John Collins took over in crunch time and spearheaded a comeback, it was Clint Capela who made arguably the biggest play of the game with an offensive rebound and putback to give his team the lead in the final 30 seconds. Pat Connaughton missed a three on the ensuing possession, Young hit four clutch free throws and Khris Middleton missed a potential game-tying three at the end.
Impressive showings from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday weren't enough for Milwaukee, which will be facing plenty of pressure to at least split the first two contests at home in Game 2.
Young has been the breakout star of the Eastern Conference playoffs, and a chance to duel Antetokounmpo for a spot in the NBA Finals only puts him further in the spotlight.
He was up for the challenge.
The Hawks' leader was unstoppable in the first half and consistently got to his floater whenever he wanted against Milwaukee's drop coverage on the pick-and-roll. When the Bucks adjusted in the second quarter, he mixed in a number of outside shots and had a stunning 25 points at halftime.
The problem at first was where the help was coming from, as Atlanta still trailed at intermission with nobody else in double figures. Bogdan Bogdanovic was clearly hampered by his right knee injury while moving laterally on defense and attempting to get lift on his jumper, and the offense was largely Young-or-bust for extended stretches.
That help came from Collins in the second half, who both enforced his will on the boards and started throwing down dunks off Young's assists. One came on an alley-oop pass off the backboard before No. 11 brought the style by busting out a shoulder shimmy before he hit a wide-open three as the Hawks seized the lead behind his continued brilliance.
Milwaukee was caught flatfooted time after time and had no idea if Young was going to step back and hit a triple or drive into the lane where he could hit his floater or throw lobs. Even when the Hawks fell behind by seven in the last five minutes, Young set up Collins multiple times—including on a monumental three-pointer to cut the lead to one—and converted a key and-1 in the lane.
All that set up the point guard's clutch free-throw shooting and the winning play by Capela, and the Hawks stole one on the road thanks in large part to their leader's incredible outing.
Bucks Waste Efforts by Giannis, Holiday
It's hard to script a better opportunity to reach the NBA Finals than the one in front of the Bucks. After all, they have a two-time MVP, they have home-court advantage, they already eliminated the star-studded Brooklyn Nets, and the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers are watching from home.
While that means Milwaukee is also the one under more pressure, Antetokounmpo wasted no time answering it.
He overpowered Hawks defenders in the paint to create easy looks at the rim throughout the first half while also controlling the boards and dishing out assists. It wasn't just a one-man show, though, as Holiday played his best game of the postseason by aggressively attacking the lane, hitting from the outside and also facilitating.
Throw in Bobby Portis providing a timely lift off the bench, and the Bucks had a lead at intermission even though Young was torching them on the other end.
It was the Holiday and Antetokounmpo show into the second half, as the former continued to hit from the outside and penetrate as something of a counter to Young and the latter didn't settle for too many outside shots.
Unfortunately for the Bucks, they still trailed heading into the final quarter largely because Middleton was anything but his typical self. That put even more pressure on the other two, and they seemed to deliver enough for the win when Antetokounmpo scored six straight points and Holiday hit a three to extend the lead to seven with fewer than five minutes remaining.
However, Middleton's struggles, a brutal three-pointer from Connaughton at the end and Young's overall showing were too much to overcome, putting the Bucks in comeback mode.
What's Next?
The series remains in Milwaukee for Friday's Game 2.
Suns' Deandre Ayton on Doubters: 'I Still Think They Don't Believe Yet'
Jun 23, 2021
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, right, scores over Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
For most of the first three years of his NBA career, Deandre Ayton has lived in the shadow of fellow 2018 draftees Luka Doncic and Trae Young, with some even venturing to call him a disappointment at his lowest points.
Fresh off a game-winning dunk that gave the Suns a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals and in the midst of a postseason breakout, Ayton still feels the scorn from his doubters.
"I still think they doubt me. I still think they don't believe yet," Ayton told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. "I might be turning some heads with people that know basketball, like front-office types, and people that really know the game. I know I am probably stepping into the right direction. But I don't think the world truly, truly sees that.
"But if I can win this whole thing, that is where I can get my reputation. That is where I can be a star."
Ayton has dominated the Clippers on the interior through the first two games of the conference finals, putting up 44 points and 23 rebounds while making 22 of his 27 shots. His inside presence forced the Clippers to abandon the small-ball lineups they used in the second round against the Jazz, with Ayton taking advantage in ways All-NBA center Rudy Gobert could not.
Ayton is averaging 16.3 points and 10.8 rebounds through 12 postseason games. ESPN Stats & Infonoted he is the first player of the shot-clock era to shoot better than 70 percent in the playoffs over a 12-game span.
Praise of his play is a stark contrast to mostly negative coverage of Ayton's first three NBA seasons. Whereas Doncic emerged as a perennial MVP candidate and Young revitalized basketball in Atlanta, Ayton was seen as something of a relic to the past—an interior big who gobbles up largely empty double-doubles. Media outlets were offeringcompletely fair criticisms of Ayton even this season, as concern grew as to whether he'll ever reach All-Star potential.
"People are going to have criticisms night in and night out,” Ayton said. "But you have to know what kind of player you are. Whether they view you negatively or positively, you have to work when no one is watching. You have to bring it every day with consistency.”
If Ayton's playoff brilliance is part of a true breakout, then there's a real potential the 2018 draft class will go down as one of the strongest in recent memory. Young has been perhaps the biggest mainstream star of these playoffs with his antics taking down the Knicks and Sixers, while Doncic has face-of-the-NBA potential in Dallas.
The gut reaction to building a lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals may lead you to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trae Young...
Windhorst: Ben Simmons Would Draw 'A Lot of Interest' If 76ers Attempt to Trade Star
Jun 22, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 20: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 2, Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs on June 20, 2021 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Questions revolving around the Philadelphia 76ers and forward Ben Simmons are going to circulate all summer long after his poor performance in the Eastern Conference Semifinals loss vs. the Atlanta Hawks.
Can he ever truly complement Joel Embiid? Will he ever develop a jump shot, or even attempt to do so? Does he simply need a change of scenery, where he can perhaps regain his confidence and join a team that will build around his strengths? How likely is he to be traded?
Per that last question, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday that there will be a market for his services during an appearance on SportsCenter (2:45 mark):
In talking to executives around the league, there's a lot of interest in Ben Simmons. If he was made available on the market today, there would be maybe up to a dozen teams would make offers. But it's the quality of those offers that Daryl Morey is going to have to worry about, and he's going to have to be very careful with his behind-the-scenes moves and his public statements, not to show that hand and potentially give away what their position is going to be."
Simmons became the focal point of Philly's 103-96 loss in Game 7 after he bypassed a dunk opportunity in the fourth quarter in favor of passing the ball to Matisse Thybulle, who was fouled and subsequently made just one of two free throws. And who was the looming defender under the basket that Simmons didn't challenge?
For the entire series, Simmons attempted just three shots in the fourth quarter, a shockingly low number. After Game 7, neither MVP runner-up Joel Embiid nor Sixers head coach Doc Rivers exactly jumped at the chance to defend the beleaguered forward:
"I don't know how to say it - but I thought the turning point was we had an open shot, we missed and we made one free throw."
Rivers would go on to add Monday that he believes the team has a plan in place to improve Simmons' game, namely as a shooter:
#Sixers coach Rivers: 'I believe we know what the right work is and the right way to do it (with Ben Simmons this off-season). After being here for a year, I believe we have identified the what and how. ... We're not hiding that Ben has to be a more confident free throw shooter.'
That, of course, is assuming Simmons is even a Sixer next season. It's fair to argue that he'll simply never be a great fit next to Embiid, and maximizing the prime of the superstar center should be the top priority in Philly.
The counterargument is that Simmons' trade value may never be lower than what it is right now. It's hard to imagine the Sixers getting a bonafide star in return for the 24-year-old.
Simmons remains one of the most polarizing players in the game. His strengths are profound: He's a visionary passer (7.7 APG in his career), especially in transition, where he attacks the basket with vigor and kicks out to the perimeter to open shooters. He's arguably the best defensive player in the game, capable of defending 1-4 at an elite level and even opposing centers in a pinch. He regularly locks down an opponent's best offensive threat. And his combination of size, speed, athleticism and strength is rare.
But his major weakness is equally as profound: He's not only a bad shooter, he's basically unwilling to even attempt the rare jumper.
He was so bad from the free-throw line in the postseason (34.2 percent) that both the Washington Wizards and Hawks employed the "hack-a-Ben" strategy to put him on the line. In turn, he completely abandoned any aggression attacking the basket, ostensibly fearing the possibility he'd be fouled. In the latter stages of the series against Atlanta he essentially just stood in the dunker spot, making it easy for the Hawks to double Embiid without fear of Simmons contributing, well, anything on offense. For some key offensive series late in games, Rivers even subbed him out.
He'll never be a true star without a willingness to take the occasional jump shot and attack the basket. But perhaps on a team loaded with perimeter shooters that doesn't want to play through an elite post option like Embiid, Simmons would be far more effective, opening up driving lanes for easier opportunities at the rim.
There will be a market. Some general manager will believe his organization can get the most out of Simmons. It just remains to be seen if Morey gets anywhere close to the return he's hoping for in the process.
Giannis Praises 'Amazing' Trae Young: What He's Done in a 3-Year Span Is Unbelievable
Jun 22, 2021
Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young plays during Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Giannis Antetokounmpo has nothing but respect for his counterpart ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks.
"He is an amazing player," Antetokounmpo said Tuesday of Trae Young, per ESPN's Malika Andrews. "What he can do for his size…it's unbelievable. What he's done in a three-year span is unbelievable. He's got to keep getting better, keep believing in himself and the sky is the limit for him."
While Young has been a dangerous shooter and playmaker throughout his first three seasons in the league, he has ascended to a level of superstardom during these playoffs.
He torched the New York Knicks in the first round and then helped lead the Hawks past the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the second round. His mix of floaters in the lane, deep three-pointers and alley-oop lobs to Clint Capela and John Collins have been largely unstoppable, and he has the Hawks one series win away from the NBA Finals.
Young and Co. will have to go through Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who are fresh off their own seven-game victory over Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.
It won't be easy, but the Hawks point guard has already done enough to earn the respect of the two-time MVP.
Hawks' Trae Young Had to 'Find a Way' to Play Through Shooting Struggles in Game 7
Jun 21, 2021
Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young plays during Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
If someone told Atlanta Hawks fans their team would win a Game 7 on the road over the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers while Trae Young shot 5-of-23 from the field, they surely wouldn't have believed it.
Yet, that's exactly what happened Sunday as Atlanta advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 103-96 victory.
To Young's credit, he dished out 10 assists and drilled a long three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to push his team's lead to six. He also gave the Hawks the lead at one point in that final quarter with one of his trademark floaters and played better down the stretch with the game hanging in the balance.
"I know I just have to find a way," Young said afterward. "My shot was off tonight. My right hand and my shoulders … I was trying to fight through it and push through it. And shots just weren't going tonight, but my teammates showed up and made plays. Me, I just tried to find them."
Young has been playing through a right shoulder injury and wraps it up when he is sidelined.
Given his struggles—and those of starting backcourt mate Bogdan Bogdanovic, who went 2-of-8 from the floor and 0-of-4 from three in 21 minutes—Atlanta wouldn't have prevailed without the efforts of Kevin Huerter, John Collins and Danilo Gallinari.
Huerter led the team in scoring with 27 points and converted three critical free throws in the final minute to push the lead to four. Collins battled inside against Joel Embiid and Philadelphia's frontcourt and ended up with 14 points and 16 rebounds. And Gallinari made a number of important offensive plays on his way to 17 points while also forcing an Embiid turnover at a critical juncture.
The Hawks have an array of proven scorers with Collins, Bogdanovic, Huerter, Gallinari, Lou Williams and even Clint Capela inside on lobs, but versus a well-rounded Milwaukee Bucks team in the Eastern Conference Finals, you'd figure Young would need to be more efficient for the Hawks to shock the basketball world and reach the Finals.
Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Hawks Edge Joel Embiid, 76ers in Game 7; Will Face Bucks
Jun 21, 2021
Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young (11) goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Matisse Thybulle (22) during the second half of Game 7 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Atlanta Hawks are going to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Atlanta defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 103-96 in Sunday's decisive Game 7 of their second-round series at Wells Fargo Center. Kevin Huerter led the way while Trae Young struggled with his shot for the victors, who advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2015 and will face the Milwaukee Bucks.
Solid showings from Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris weren't enough for the 76ers, who failed to live up to postseason expectations as the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed.
Supporting Cast Carries Hawks to Conference Finals
Sunday was another opportunity for Young to further step into the NBA spotlight.
The third-year playmaker already eliminated the New York Knicks, helped his team overcome a 26-point deficit in Game 5 against the 76ers and has continued to bolster his status as one of the league's brightest young stars during a dominant playoffs. Sunday was his first Game 7 and provided a chance to eliminate the Eastern Conference's top seed.
He did anything but seize the moment in the early going.
Young shot an ugly 1-of-12 from the field in the first half while Philadelphia swarmed him every time he had the ball in the half court. To his credit, he still facilitated as John Collins and Huerter picked up the slack and led the visitors to a halftime lead even with the point guard struggling.
It was more of the same in the third quarter for Young, who simply couldn't get things going with his shot. Fortunately for the Hawks, Huerter and Danilo Gallinari carried the scoring for stretches, and Young at least mixed in some lobs to Clint Capela to give them the lead heading into the final quarter of the series.
Still, Atlanta was likely only going to win if Young figured it out in crunch time. The pressure fell on his shoulders even more when the team went cold to start the fourth quarter and immediately lost the lead, but he responded with a floater to take the lead and a long three to push the lead to six.
Fittingly, it was Huerter and Gallinari who made the biggest plays, though, as the former hit three free throws in the final minute and the latter knocked the ball loose from Embiid for a critical steal and dunk as Atlanta put the finishing touches on the victory.
76ers Lose in Second Round Again
The biggest question coming into Sunday's game was whether the third time would be the charm for the Embiid and Ben Simmons 76ers.
This was the third time the duo reached the second round of the playoffs, and they came up short in each of the first two tries. They lost to the Boston Celtics in 2018 and then had their hearts ripped out by Kawhi Leonard's Game 7 buzzer-beater when the Toronto Raptors won the title in 2019.
Embiid seemed to have a sense of the moment and started out quickly by overpowering Hawks defenders on the block and getting to the free-throw line. Simmons also dished out eight assists by halftime even though he wasn't looking for his own shot, and Seth Curry remained locked in with his shooting stroke.
Even with all that, Philadelphia trailed at the half with Harris struggling from the field and Embiid dealing with turnover issues even as he led the offensive attack.
The 76ers made it a priority to get Harris going early in the third quarter, and Curry and Embiid continued to play well to keep them within striking distance. Still, there was plenty of concern from the home crowd's perspective heading into the final 12 minutes with a deficit and another second-round exit looming.
Embiid shifted into takeover mode early in the fourth quarter and gave the 76ers the lead. Still, every possession boiled down to Embiid or bust for a stretch, as Simmons, in particular, shied away from shots to the point Atlanta didn't even guard him outside of the paint.
It didn't help that Embiid had eight turnovers, including the big one on the Gallinari strip. Simmons also missed an important free throw in the final two minutes and was a nonfactor offensively throughout the fourth quarter as the 76ers once again went home in the second round.
What's Next?
The Hawks will face the Bucks with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line.
Sunday's two-game NBA playoffs slate presents a different dynamic to FanDuel's daily fantasy basketball contest compared to what we have seen for most of the postseason...
Joel Embiid, Seth Curry Help 76ers Force Game 7 vs. Trae Young, Hawks
Jun 19, 2021
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) is defended by Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) as he goes in for a basket during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal series Friday, June 18, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Philadelphia 76ers' playoff run is intact for at least one more day after they beat the host Atlanta Hawks 104-99 in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series on Friday at State Farm Arena.
Seth Curry's 24 points co-led the 76ers, who overcame a 12-point first-quarter deficit. The shooting guard nailed six three-pointers to help Philadelphia tie Atlanta at three games apiece in the best-of-seven matchup. Tobias Harris also dropped 24 points.
Joel Embiid posted 22 points on 9-of-24 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds but committed eight turnovers.
Tyrese Maxey came off the bench and scored 16 points for the 76ers. The rookie played down the stretch in place of Ben Simmons, who struggled with just six points on 2-of-6 shooting and five fouls.
Trae Young's masterful postseason continued, as he dropped 34 points and 12 assists.
Atlanta's free-throw struggles ultimately hindered the Hawks, however, as they made just 13-of-24 from the charity stripe.
The Hawks also missed Bogdan Bogdanovic after the swingman was limited to 29 minutes and left early after suffering right knee soreness.
The 76ers led for much of the second half but had to hold on down the stretch.
A Young three-pointer with Maxey in his face cut the 76ers' lead to 94-93 with 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.
In response, Embiid rebounded his own miss for a putback and the three-point edge.
Maxey then earned a clutch defensive rebound off a Young miss, and the 76ers eventually closed the Hawks out with free throws.
Hawks SG Kevin Huerter: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists
Hawks C Clint Capela: 14 points, 11 rebounds
76ers C Joel Embiid: 22 points, 13 rebounds
76ers SG Seth Curry: 24 points
76ers PG Tyrese Maxey: 16 points, 7 rebounds
Curry, Maxey Guide 76ers To Win
The 76ers' season was on life support in the first quarter, when the Hawks took a 20-8 lead just 5:19 into the game. Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons were on the bench after they each picked up two fouls, and Young had as many points as the entire 76ers team.
That's when two 76er heroes emerged to save the team's playoff run.
Curry and Maxey combined to score the 76ers' final 14 first-quarter points to stop the bleeding and cut the Atlanta lead to 27-22 after 12 minutes.
Maxey scored six points in the frame, including this twisting layup:
Maxey ended up with nine first-half points, good enough to pull the 76ers into a 29-all tie in the second quarter. Rich Hofmann of The Athletic noted how unfazed Maxey appeared in the do-or-die situation.
9 points on 4-4 shooting for Tyrese Maxey and all the sudden we're tied. For a rookie, not even close to afraid of the moment.
Undeterred, Atlanta responded with a 10-0 run, but the 76ers clawed back and trailed 51-47 at half.
The third quarter was all Curry.
The shooting guard scored 11 points in 3:07 to start the third off a trio of three-pointers and a 21-foot jumper. He also assisted on a Joel Embiid three-pointer, so Curry accounted for all the points in a 14-0 run that gave Philadelphia a 61-51 edge.
Curry has simply been on fire during the playoffs, hitting 38-of-76 three-pointers (28-of-45 vs. Atlanta). He was also coming off a 36-point effort in Game 5. Sixers Stats provided some figures showcasing his greatness:
This is @sdotcurry's 4th game this postseason w/ at least 5 3s. No other @sixers player has ever had more than 2 such games in a playoff run (@alleniverson 1; @jj_redick 2).
Curry's 4 such games are tied w/ @Dame_Lillard for the 3rd-most in @NBA this postseason.
In the fourth quarter, Maxey helped carry the torch for the 76ers, hitting a free throw, registering a steal and nailing another shot from beyond the arc within 23 seconds to give Philadelphia a 84-78 edge.
The 76ers needed help on a night when Simmons struggled offensively and the team finished minus-seven with him on the court. They got that assistance courtesy of Curry and Maxey, who guided the 76ers back home to Philadelphia.
Another Masterpiece for Trae Young
It's been the case for the entire playoffs, but Trae Young was nothing short of exceptional once again.
He led all players in points, assists and steals and is now averaging 29.8 points and 10.4 dimes for the playoffs.
On a night where the Hawks largely struggled shooting (41.3 percent from the field, 54.2 percent from the free-throw line), Young kept Atlanta alive despite the offensive onslaught from Curry and Maxey. His efforts to get the Hawks off to a great start helped keep this game competitive for four quarters too.
Young, who finished second in the NBA in assists per game, found Clint Capela early for an easy two:
The point guard was at his finest with his team down 94-90, however.
With the shot clock winding down and Maxey playing impeccable defense, Young somehow found space and hit a clutch three-pointer to cut the 76er edge to one:
The result didn't go the way of Young and the Hawks, but Atlanta will always appear to have a chance as long as he is on the court. He's on an epic run right now, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:
Trae Young has 20+ points and 7+ assists in 11 straight games, tied for the longest streak in NBA postseason history.
We'll soon find out how this Young postseason story ends, but the 22-year-old is rewriting NBA history books and has Atlanta in position to potentially pull off an epic playoff run. The Hawks will look to write a positive conclusion to that chapter against the 76ers shortly.
What's Next?
Philadelphia will host Atlanta for a series-deciding Game 7 on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at the Wells Fargo Center.
