Atlanta Hawks

The Cleveland Cavaliers stunned Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks 101-95 on Saturday to grab their first win of the season.

Collin Sexton continues to be a significant factor for the Cavs early on, but it was Evan Mobley and Ricky Rubio who stepped up to help Cleveland improve to 1-2 on the season.

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Notable Player Stats

Ricky Rubio, PG, CLE: 23 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL

Trae Young, PG, ATL: 24 PTS, 1 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL

Evan Mobley, PF, CLE: 17 PTS, 11 REB, 1 AST, 4 BLK

Cam Reddish, SF, ATL: 19 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST

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Evan Mobley Impresses with Double-Double

2021 third overall pick Evan Mobley is going to be a star.

In just his third game of the season, the 20-year-old recorded a double-double and was arguably the most impressive player on the court against the Hawks.

He had no interest in seeing the Cavs lose their third straight game to open the season, and he was dominant for stretches Saturday night. He was particularly impressive just before halftime and in the second half:

Making a living down low@evanmobley x #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/XfD5S7WJ8o

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 23, 2021

Ricky finds the Rookie 💪

Evan Mobley has 17 PTS, 11 REB and 4 BLK on NBA LP! #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/9e7ELhp3mc

— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2021

While the Hawks kept things close through two quarters, the Cavs began to pull away in the third. Mobley's performance helped put the Cavs up 83-72 entering the fourth quarter, a lead they never gave up.

The youngster's big night was all the more critical as Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro had a relatively quiet evening, combining for just 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Still, Mobley didn't do it all himself as the Cavs had several big contributors. Sexton, Ricky Rubio and Jarrett Allen were also effective against Atlanta, especially in the second half. They finished with a combined 46 points, 21 rebounds and 13 assists.

If Cleveland wants to continue winning games, they'll need similar performances from Rubio, Mobley and Co. as the season rolls on. The Cavs haven't made the postseason since the 2017-18 campaign, and while they aren't projected to do so this year, things are certainly looking up for the franchise.

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Big Performance from Cam Reddish Not Enough

One of the biggest storylines entering the 2021-22 season for the Hawks would be if Cam Reddish would take a step forward this season. After an impressive 20-point performance in Atlanta's season-opener against the Mavericks, Reddish did not disappoint Saturday night.

Aside from Young, the 22-year-old was without a doubt one of the Hawks' best players in Cleveland.

Reddish goes to the reverse 👀@ATLHawks and Cavaliers midway through Q3 on NBA LP!

📱💻: https://t.co/V0kkYEEIkG pic.twitter.com/tbVk3ZLsP7

— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2021

Reddish helped the Hawks keep things close for most of Saturday's game, but he didn't receive much help from anyone not named Young.

Bogdan Bogdanovic played particularly poorly, finishing with just five points, two rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes, while John Collins, Gorgui Dieng and Kevin Huerter were nearly invisible. The trio combined for 15 points, 21 rebounds and four assists.

The Hawks might have had a better chance if Onyeka Okongwu and Danilo Gallinari were available. Okongwu is expected to miss at least three more months after undergoing surgery this summer to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Gallinari is also dealing with a shoulder ailment.

Atlanta can't continue to rely solely on Young if it wants to win an NBA title this season and will need other players to step up to avoid similarly disappointing losses in the future.

Collins told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic before the season that he believes the Hawks are "real contenders" this year, and they have plenty of time to prove it.

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What's Next?

The Hawks move on to face the Detroit Pistons at home on Monday, while the Cavaliers will be on the road to take on the Denver Nuggets.

The Atlanta Hawks earned a 113-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks at home in the season opener for both teams on Thursday. Six players scored in double figures to lead the way for Atlanta, led by Cam Reddish's 20 points off the bench.

20 points & counting... pic.twitter.com/n1aIbmgs1P

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 22, 2021

Hawks star point guard Trae Young had 19 points and dished out 14 assists.

The Hawks also played stellar defense and held the Mavericks to 33.3 percent from the field and 30.2 percent (13-for-43) from three-point range.

The win ends a two-game losing streak against Dallas for the Hawks, who were swept in last year's two-game regular-season series.

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Notable Player Stats

Hawks

F Cam Reddish: 20 points off the bench

G Trae Young: 19 points, 14 assists

Mavericks

G Luka Doncic: 18 points (6-for-17 shooting), 11 rebounds, 7 assists

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Hawks Blow the Game Open in Third Quarter

The Hawks took control and ran away with the game after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 22-8 run and outscoring the Mavericks 35-20 in the period.

Young, who was held to seven points in the first half, scored 12 points in the third and did a good job orchestrating the offense to set up his teammates for easy scores. He had nine assists in the third quarter alone.

🗣🗣 Count it pic.twitter.com/6o1eACHEka

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 22, 2021

Got 'em 💦 pic.twitter.com/zYfIsklmb8

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 22, 2021

Trae Young gets up to 9 ASSISTS in the 3rd quarter alone with this outlet to Cam Reddish 🤯 pic.twitter.com/HnwBKYix5g

— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2021

The Hawks also clamped down defensively and made things difficult for the Mavericks both inside and outside.

Dre clamps 🗜 pic.twitter.com/Ukb7LQFFte

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 22, 2021

GIMMIE THAT pic.twitter.com/brDm73NzAZ

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 22, 2021

Young wasn't very efficient, shooting 6-of-16 from the field. But the Hawks also received a ton of contributions from their supporting cast. Along with Reddish's 20 points, John Collins added 16 points and nine rebounds, Clint Capela had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 11 points each.

Still holds true 🔒 https://t.co/iVkme1msFq pic.twitter.com/66RpMh5Gyc

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 22, 2021

The Hawks' balanced attack on Thursday should be their blueprint for success for the rest of the season. Atlanta's depth was on full display and the team was without veterans Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari, who both sat due to soreness. If the Hawks can keep this up, a second consecutive run to the Eastern Conference Finals is not out of the question.

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Mavericks Doomed by Poor Shooting

The Mavericks opened the game going 7-for-26 from the field in the first quarter, and things never got better after that. Despite the outside shots not falling, Dallas kept chucking the ball from three-point range instead of attacking the basket.

Mavs are shooting just 29.3% and are only 7 of 25 from 3.

— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) October 22, 2021

Credit Atlanta's defense, which features two great rim protectors in Capela and Collins. Hunter also did an excellent job in his one-on-one matchup with Doncic.

Stellar defense from De'Andre Hunter here, whew pic.twitter.com/bhun1UBVMK

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) October 22, 2021

Jalen Brunson had 17 points off the bench and was the only player to shoot efficiently, going 7-for-13. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting while Kristaps Porzingis was held to 11 points on 4-of-13 from the field.

Despite a new head coach in Jason Kidd, the Mavericks' offense didn't look much different from last year's. Doncic dominated the ball too many times and the team had no answers when the three-pointers weren't falling. Dallas will need to switch things up if they hope to make a run in this year's postseason. 

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What's Next?

The Hawks will return to action on Saturday in a road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Mavericks will look to bounce back in Saturday's road matchup against the Toronto Raptors.

The Atlanta Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season and took the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks to six games, but All-Star guard Trae Young doesn't believe the Hawks are getting enough recognition.

"I don't think we get the respect we deserve. I watch a lot of TV. I see people mentioning all of the acquisitions everyone is getting. No one is mentioning us," Young said Thursday, per The Athletic's Chris Kirschner.

He added: "The Milwaukee-Brooklyn game, they mentioned how they were in the Eastern Finals. It was just mind-blowing."

Young also told Kirschner in a recent interview that he isn't content with how the 2020-21 season ended, and neither are his teammates. 

"I'm not satisfied. I know my teammates aren't satisfied," Young said. "We're very happy and humble to do what we have done and to achieve what we have achieved so far, but that's only making it to the conference finals. That's not the end goal for anybody. For us, we're not satisfied. We want more."

Young's comments are similar to what John Collins told Kirschner in an interview earlier this month. The 24-year-old said he feels the Hawks are "real contenders" this season, even in a loaded Eastern Conference.

Young was one of the main reasons why the Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season. He averaged 28.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists in 16 playoff games. Those numbers are better than what he averaged during the 2020-21 regular season. 

There's no reason to believe Young and the Hawks won't make another deep run in the playoffs. Most of the roster returns from the 2020-21 campaign, including Young, Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter and Clint Capela.

In addition, the Hawks should get solid contributions off the bench from Delon Wright, Lou Williams, Kevin Huerter and Gorgui Dieng, among others. The emergence of 2019 10th overall pick Cam Reddish will be critical for Atlanta too. 

Even if the Hawks don't win the NBA title this season, they have a bright future. Young is locked in on a five-year, $207 million rookie max extension, and Collins agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal in August. 

The Hawks' quest for a title begins Thursday when they host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks at State Farm Arena to open the 2021-22 season. 

The Atlanta Hawks and wing Kevin Huerter have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $65 million contract extension, Huerter's agents told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

He is the second player from the team's 2018 draft class to sign a long-term extension, joining star point guard Trae Young, who signed a five-year, $172 million extension—that could be worth $207 million if he's voted onto one of the three All-NBA teams—in August. 

The Hawks also locked up John Collins (five years, $125 million) and Clint Capela (two-year, $46 million extension) over the summer. 

Young's max extension was a foregone conclusion, while keeping Collins was a priority and Capela's extension made plenty of sense, given how well he's played for the Hawks. But how much the Hawks would feel comfortable paying Huerter in an extension was a bigger question mark this offseason. 

The sharpshooter makes sense stylistically as another floor-spacer around Young, with the 23-year-old shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc in his career. He was solid for the Hawks in the 2020-21 regular season, averaging 11.9 points in 30.8 minutes per game. 

My initial reaction to Kevin Huerter's extension is it's great value for the Hawks. I think he's one of the better young wings in the NBA. He showed last season that he's continuing to grow defensively, can be trusted with the ball and has the potential to shoot 40% from 3.

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) October 18, 2021

But he thrived in the postseason, coming up with some big-time performances in Atlanta's surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals, including a crucial 27-point outburst in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.

That game became infamous for Ben Simmons passing up a dunk in the fourth quarter—the aftershock of that moment is still rippling throughout Philadelphia—but Huerter's performance was arguably as big of a factor in the win. 

It was all the more important for the Hawks considering they were already without De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic was battling a knee injury and wasn't 100 percent. Huerter proved he could take on a bigger role for the Hawks moving forward. 

"With guys going out, we're definitely telling him we need him to be more aggressive and score the ball more," Young told reporters at the time regarding Huerter's performance. "He's been doing that and he did it tonight."

The Hawks are banking on him doing it plenty in the future, too.

Can the Atlanta Hawks really compete for an NBA title this season? Veteran forward John Collins thinks so. 

Atlanta has most of the same roster from the 2020-21 campaign returning this season, and Collins told The Athletic's Chris Kirschner that he feels the Hawks are "real contenders," even in a tough Eastern Conference. 

"I definitely feel like we can get to the Finals. The East is loaded. Not to say we don't want to see Kyrie [Irving] play, but it helps us when we don't have to see a guy like Kyrie on the court," Collins said. "As a team, for us, staying healthy, adding depth, adding experience and chemistry [this offseason], we're not going to shorten the expectations for ourselves.

"Our goal is to get to the Finals. Losing is always a failure in our minds. If it's not a championship, it won't be good enough."

Atlanta made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, knocking off the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers before falling to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. So, there's no reason to believe they can't do it again in 2022.

Collins, Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter and Clint Capela will be held to even higher standards during the 2021-22 season.

Collins, in particular, will have higher expectations this year after signing a five-year, $125 million contract during the offseason. He told Kirschner he feels he needs to improve his awareness in certain situations, such as having a quicker reaction time on the pick-and-roll and understanding an opponents' tendencies, though those things should improve with time.

Even with high expectations, the Hawks face an uphill battle in the East. The Bucks, 76ers, Celtics, Heat, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks should make things interesting again, though Atlanta did have the upper hand on Boston and Miami last season.

Regardless, it's important to point out that Collins has always believed in Atlanta's abilities. Following a win over the Brooklyn Nets in January, the 24-year-old told reporters the Hawks "are not a joke," adding he felt they proved they were "real contenders in the East."

"𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗸𝗲."

- John Collins doesn't want to hear that the Hawks can't contend in the East. pic.twitter.com/cNg3k8oNpF

— Hawks On FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Hawks) January 2, 2021

Even if the Hawks don't win the title this season, they have a bright future ahead with their confident young duo of Collins and Young intact.  

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young expressed optimism after exiting Monday's preseason game against the Miami Heat with a right quad contusion.

"I'll be good," Young told Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after Atlanta's 125-99 loss. "Trust me."

Hawks coach Nate McMillan did not have an update on Young's status, saying he was only told the guard wasn't able to return to the game. He did, however, add that he "wasn't going to bring him back even if he could."

Young had 14 points (5-of-15 from the field) and three assists in 18 minutes of action prior to exiting.

Injuries haven't been an issue for Young throughout his career, though he was hurt down the stretch last season.

Young missed Games 4 and 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a bone bruise in his right foot. The Hawks were able to win Game 4, but the Milwaukee Bucks took a 3-2 series lead with a 123-112 win in Game 5.

The All-Star returned to the lineup for Game 6 with the Hawks needing a win to keep their season alive, but he was unable to prevent the Bucks from winning the series.

Young's first postseason was a triumph for him and the organization. The 23-year-old was averaging 29.8 points and 9.5 assists in 15 games before injuring his foot. He scored 14 points and dished out nine assists in Game 6 against the Bucks.

McMillan indicated that he was willing to take the cautious approach with Young, given it's only the preseason. It's unclear if Young will be able to play in Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Atlanta has three preseason contests remaining, closing out the exhibition slate on Oct. 14 against Miami.

Atlanta Hawks superstar guard Trae Young reflected Thursday on his recent appearance at Madison Square Garden in New York City for WWE SmackDown.

Young, who played a big role in the Hawks eliminating the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season, received a ton of boos when he emerged from the curtain on SmackDown.

Regarding the special appearance, Young told GQ's Tres Dean:

They wanted me to come out, show some 'love' to the crowd, and just have some fun. It was such a cool idea. I was a fan when I was a kid and my little brother watched it a bit, so he told me I had to do it when they called. The fans weren't too happy to see me but it was a cool experience.

Young was on the Sept. 10 edition of SmackDown as a special guest of Sami Zayn. As a villainous character, Zayn introduced Young to the MSG crowd, eliciting a hugely negative reaction.

Young was in the corner of the heel team comprised of Zayn, Apollo Crews, Otis, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode in a 10-man tag team match against Big E, King Nakamura, Rick Boogs, Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio.

At one point, Young roughed up Rey while he was hung up on the ropes, leading to the referee ejecting him. That resulted in a massive ovation from the live crowd.

The babyface team of Big E, Nakamura, Boogs and The Mysterios then went on to win the match.

Young's appearance came across so well after he established himself as a villain to the MSG crowd during the playoffs, much like Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller did years earlier.

The 23-year-old Young averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists per contest in the five-game series win over the Knicks. He played up his role as the "bad guy" by gesturing toward Knicks fans at MSG, and he even got spit on by one of the fans during a game.

With Young leading the way, the fifth-seeded Hawks made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Young is poised to continue cementing himself as one of the top NBA players next season and beyond, and he may have a future in pro wrestling as well.

Adidas announced Friday the Trae Young 1, the first signature shoe for the Atlanta Hawks star, will be released Oct. 1 in two colorways, with a further three to be made available later.

Young collaborated with the company to create a shoe "designed to support his multi-directional playing style" with its boost cushioning and "lightstrike" midsole concepts.

"Adidas and I worked very closely on my first signature shoe and I'm hyped to finally let fans get a hold of them. When you wear these, you're repping that ice cold mentality and the entire city of Atlanta," Young said in a press release. "This moment is really special as it's a reminder to the next generation of hoopers that through hard work and focus you can achieve your dreams. Trae Young 1 is a symbol of that for me."

Here are the shoe's five colorways:

• ICEE (available Oct. 1)

• ICEE Cotton Candy (Oct. 1)

• SO SO DEF (Nov. 5)

• SO SO DEF ATL (Nov. 5)

• Peachtree (Nov. 19)

"Trae embodies the mentality of limitless potential—unafraid to let anything get in the way of his ambition, he pushes boundaries, proves critics wrong and creates new space for himself and the game," Adidas Basketball General Manager Eric Wise said.

The initial Oct. 1 drop will also include an apparel line that includes a zip pull-over, pants and shorts.

Young has emerged as one of the NBA's most dynamic offensive players since being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft. He ranked fourth in the league by averaging 29.6 points during the 2019-20 season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL-8Z0DJyAU

The 23-year-old Texas native gained more national attention during the 2021 playoffs by leading the Hawks past the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers to earn a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell short against the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Young and his Atlanta teammates tip off the 2021-22 campaign Oct. 21, when they host the Dallas Mavericks in pursuit of the franchise's first title since 1958.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young made a surprise appearance at WWE Super SmackDown in New York's Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Guess who's back in @TheGarden?! 🧊#SmackDown @TheTraeYoung @ATLHawks pic.twitter.com/ow7VyTsAci

— WWE (@WWE) September 11, 2021

Sami Zayn, who was sporting a New York Knicks jersey, announced that Young would be in his corner during a 10-man tag team match.

That didn't go over well with the MSG faithful, who assuredly remembered Young and the Hawks beating the Knicks in five games during the first round of the 2021 Eastern Conference playoffs.

Young dominated that series, averaging 29.2 points per game and dropping the game-winner in Game 1 to silence the MSG crowd. He shushed the crowd afterward, perhaps cementing himself as the next great MSG villain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL-8Z0DJyAU

On Friday, Young played the heel as he appeared ringside to help his new friend, but he wasn't there long after pulling Rey Mysterio's neck on the middle rope to help Zayn's team.

.@TheTraeYoung was just trying to have @SamiZayn's back! #SmackDown @ATLHawks @TheGarden pic.twitter.com/0hrseHbNLc

— WWE (@WWE) September 11, 2021

The referee caught Young and escorted him from ringside.

Eventually, the five-man team of Big E, Rey and Dominik Mysterio, Rick Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura beat Zayn, Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode, Apollo Crews and Otis Dozovic. Big E earned the pin after hitting the Big Ending on Zayn.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Center Clint Capela reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the extension is worth $46 million, and it will keep Capela under contract with the Hawks through the 2024-25 season.

The five-year, $90 million deal Capela signed with the Houston Rockets before getting traded to Atlanta ran through 2022-23.

Capela, 27, played a significant role in the Hawks' surprise trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020-21.

In 63 regular-season games, the 6'10" center averaged 15.2 points to go along with a career-high 14.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Capela was the NBA rebounding champion for the first time in his career.

Capela also shot 59.4 percent from the field, marking the sixth consecutive season he shot 58.0 percent of better from the floor.

The Switzerland native was also a key contributor in the playoffs, averaging 10.1 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 18 postseason games.

Prior to getting traded to Atlanta last year, Capela spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Rockets.

Capela developed into one of the NBA's best centers in Houston, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds in three straight seasons from 2017-20.

All told, Capela owns career averages of 12.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 397 NBA regular-season games.

The Hawks have a strong core and will return largely the same roster they had in 2020-21.

Capela will be among the team's most important players along with Trae Young, John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter and De'Andre Hunter.

Few teams in the NBA possess the type of young talent and depth the Hawks do, meaning they could be contenders in the East for many years to come.

Since most teams lack a true difference-maker at center, Capela gives the Hawks a leg up on the competition as well.