The Madison Square Garden crowd was doing anti-Trae Young chants even before Wednesday’s game started. In the third quarter, the Atlanta Hawks star had his response en route to the team’s 108-100 win.
Atlanta went on a 25-6 run in the third quarter thanks to two big factors: Defense and Young. With Atlanta trailing 62-52, Young began asserting himself on offense. He scored four points and assisted on two baskets during an initial 10-2 run.
After Karl-Anthony Towns tipped in his own miss, Young responded with back-to-back three-pointers, the second coming from 30 feet out.
By forcing misses, the Hawks were able to get out in transition regularly. The Knicks looked discombobulated on defense, especially when the Hawks drove to the hoop. After two such De’Andre Hunter drives closed the half, Atlanta finished the quarter with a nine-point lead, winning the quarter, 34-18, and ultimately the game.
Young has been Public Enemy No. 1 for Knicks fans since he averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists in a first-round win over New York in 2021, which ended with Young taking a bow at center court. Since then, profane chants about Young have become the norm at MSG, even when the Hawks aren’t playing.
It might have lit a fire under Young in Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal, with the Hawks’ big run happening after the chants started up again.
Young in clearly in the fans’ heads. Win or lose Wednesday night, the chants are going to be the same.
