Hawks Beat Cavaliers, Advance in NBA Cup

The Atlanta Hawks have shown signs of growth, achieving consecutive victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were leading the Eastern Conference with a 17-1 record. These wins helped the Hawks advance from East Group C in the NBA Cup and into the quarterfinals. The Cavs have faced criticism for their defensive struggles, slipping from their dominant start to the season. Despite Donovan Mitchell's subpar performance, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley delivered strong individual stats, but Cleveland's defense and bench production fell short against the Hawks' scoring depth. Atlanta's Trae Young showcased his playmaking abilities with a career-high 22 assists and continued to lead the NBA in assists per game. The Hawks are now in a competitive position within the Eastern Conference, closing in on higher standings.