Hornets 103 vs. 132 Hawks summary: stats and hightlights | NBA Play-In game

The Atlanta Hawks are on their way to Cleveland after stomping the Charlotte Hornets in the second Play-In game of the Eastern Conference. Trae Young overcame a slow start to score 24 points in the 132-103 win to keep Atlanta's season alive.

Young overcomes a slow start

The Hawks were in the Eastern Conference Championship last year, but had a disappointing regular season which led them to the 9 vs. 10 matchup. Charlotte had Play-In experience coming into the game, but got wiped out by the Indiana Pacers last year. Not much changed for the Hornets this year.

Trae Young got the night going with the game’s opening basket, but then went frigid from the field, missing his next eight shots. His teammates stepped in for their star carrying the Hawks in the first half.

Atlanta hit five three’s in the first quarter, including Kevin Huerter’s three triples on three attempts. While the perimeter players were heating up, the defense was locking down. Nate McMillan’s side allowed just six points in a six minute span during the first quarter to stretch out to a 32-23 lead after 12 minutes.

Capela and Hunter take the wheel

Huerter and Clint Capela helped stretch the lead to double digits, where it would stay for the majority of the night. Capela hit the glass hard and had a first half double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

P.J. Washington and Taylor Rozier helped bring the lead back down to eight in the second quarter, but that would be the closest the Hornets would get.

In the third quarter Trae Young came to life, but it was De’Andre Hunter who stole the show coming out of the halftime break. Hunter had just three points in the first two quarters, but exploded for 16 in the third while Young added another 14 in a quarter in which the Hawks went 15-24 from the field and outscored the Hornets 42-24.

With the game in hand and a do-or-die game on Friday, Nate McMillan had the luxury of resting his starters for most of the fourth quarter.

Hawks vs. Cavs Friday with a playoff spot on the line

Young went to the bench with 24 points and 10 assists in a relatively “quiet night.” Six different Hawks had double digits, including Capela who ended his night with 15 and 17 rebounds while De’Andre Hunter had 27 points.

Before the final buzzer sounded Miles Bridges got a back-to-back technicals and stormed off the court throwing his mouthpiece into the stands and hitting an Atlanta fan.

The Hornets have been eliminated from the Play-In for the second straight year, but the Atlanta Hawks have a chance to get back to the NBA Playoffs with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The win-and-in game will tip off from Cleveland at 7:30 p.m. ET.

This will be the key matchup on Friday night.

That's only half the battle. Atlanta now has to travel to Cleveland.

Djeng hit the three off the bench and got the biggest roar from the State Farm crowd of the night.

Does it get any smoother than this for Gallinari?

Bogdanovic twisted his ankle on the play before, but showed no signs of injury with this silky stroke.

Hunter had 16 points in the third quarter.

Check out the cheeky pass from Young to find Hunter

Gallinari soaring to the rim. This was when the game was at it's closest, but the Hawks pulled away to start the second half.

Heurtel had three 3 pointers in the first quarter of the game.

How many times have we seen Clint Capella on the end of a Trae Young alley oop?

Trae Young got the scoring started, but cooled down the rest of the half.

It's all over!!! The Hawks handle the Hornets and are heading to Cleveland for the final game of the Play-In Tournament against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Djeng with a three off his own rebound, and that just set this place off for most likely the last time tonight.

Luwawu-Cabarrot for three from the corner! The subs have been put in for the Hawks with the game in the bag.

Washington down low. He had a good first half, but cooled down after halftime.

Under five minutes to go from ATL and this game has looked like it's over for a while. Timeout ATL

Young floats one up and he's got 24 and 10 assists.

Bridgers has just been thrown out of the game after getting two techs arguing a call on the Hunter and one. Gallinari hits the two technical FTs and Hunter completes the three point play.

The level of offense has dropped off dramatiaclly for both sides but the Hawks won't mind

Gallinari with a three ball. We haven't heard much of him in the second half, but the Hawks haven't needed him.

Ball with a much needed three ball.

Bogdanovic drills the three and the Hawks start up where they left off in the third

We are headed to the fourth quarter, and the Hawks pulled away in that third quarter. They outscored the Hornets 42-24, and shot 15-24

Capella banging inside and there is no one in the paint that can contest with ATL for the Hawks

Even when the Hawks miss, they are crashing the boards like Wright did on the Young miss and finished it off with a put back.

What a reverse and on very friendly rolll in his home stadium.

Ball finally stops the bleeding with a floater in the lane.

Bogdanovic for three from the top of the key and this might be all over from State Farm Arena! 24 point lead for the home side!

Young with the runner down the lane and their lead is the biggest of the night at 21. Charlotte is in danger of this game getting away form them before the fourth quarter.

Hunter from downtown!!! He's got 16 points in the third quarter! Keep feeding him the rock!!!

YOung hits a couple FTs and the lead is up to 18.

Hunter again! He's got 13 in the third just six minutes in.

Charlotte is not looking like a team that is playing to keep their season alive. Too many looks for the Hawks around the basket including that last one to Hunter who is in double digits in the third quarter.

Hunter with another strong drive to the basket. He's got 12, nine of them in the third quarter.

HOV is in the building! He was in  Brooklyn last night for the Nets Cavs Play-In game.

Hunter with a tough finish at the rim. ATL has kept a double digit lead most of the night.

Capella on the second go around after getting blocked by Bridges. He's got 13 points in a double-double night.

Timeout Hawks with 8:26 to go in the third quarter after a bit of a run for the Hornets!

Rozier starting to feel it, this time he gets the floater to go on the baseline.

Rozier with a three ball and he's got 10 points on the night.

Young with the three ball!!! If he gets hot in the second half it could be game over for the Hornets.

What a pass from Young who is embracing this role as a distruibutor tonight! Hunter gets the easy bucket downlow

We are back underway in the second half. Two more quarters to figure out who is moving on to the next game, and whose season is ending tonight.

Most of Huertel's points came from downtown, but Young saw him open underneath.

PJ is the top scorer for the Hornets with 13 points in through two quarters.

Capella with the big alley oop off the Young assist. He's got 12 rebounds to go along with his 11 points.

Young got the scoring started, but then went ice cold.

P.J. Washington and Kevin Huerter are their teams' leading scorers with 13 points in the first half, each are 3/4 from downtown.

Young ends the quarter with a jumper from the FT line. He ends the half just 3/13, but the role players for ATL stepped up in their star's cold start to his night.

There's ball for three and we suddenly have a six point game.

Rozier going to the line after a strong drive and bucket after the contact came. FT is good and if Charlotte could get some stops they would be right back in this game.

Washington in the corner for three, and the Hornets are trying to get back into this game by allowing baskets but making three balls.

Gallinari with a three ball! That's the Hawks 8th three of the game.

Ball answers with a three after going on a cold spell of seven shots with out a bucket

There's Young with his first make in his last nine attempts!

Gallinari gliding to the rack of the screen and roll! Five quick points for the Italian and the Hornets need a timeout

Gallinari with a three ball to stretch the lead out to 9 again.

Bridges going strong to the rack on back to back possessions

Young finding Huerter on the alley oop as they catch the defense napping. Not a combo you see too often on the alley, but Young is playing distributor after an cold start.

We have a timeout from Atlant with 7:53 to go in the second quarter. Charlotte look like they are on the verge of making a run to get back into this game.

Thomas with the drive and the lay up among the big boys down low.

Washington with a couple back-to-back buckets and five points for CLT, to bring the lead back to 9.

McDaniels with a three ball after the Ball assist.

Charlotte cuts the lead back to single digits with a couple trips to the FT line.

Bogdonavic with the three ball and that's the Hawks fifth triple of the first half!

The Hornets have turned the ball over 5 times already. They are usually a pretty steady ball handling team, but maybe a bit of nerves surfacing for this young team.

Harrell with the slam to end the Hornets' scoreless spell. Great pass from Ball. The Hornets are the best passing team in the league, leading the NBA in assists.

Huerter with another long ball and he's 3/3 from downtown already! These games aren't about your stars showing up, they are about who else shows up and makes a difference, Huerter making a case early on.

Capella showing that his is going to be a handful down low. He collects another lob from Young, but this time brings it down and finishes even after the foul. FT coming up after the Hornets timeout

Atlanta is on an 11-3 run over the last three minutes.

We have our first timeout five minutes into the game.

Capella on the feed from Young with the alley oop! Young is so dangerous off the screen. He's obviously a great scorer once he gets in the paint, but most of his 7+ assists a night come from that area on similar plays like the alley to Capella.

Hunter open for three and open for buisness! We expected scoring, and we are getting it early on.

Huerter with a deep ball! Everyone getting involved for the Hawks early on!

Gallinari money with the mid range jumper. With no John Collins, Danilo is going to have to have a big night.

Lamelo Ball starting the scoring off with a deep ball. If he gets going early that will be trouble for ATL.

We are underway from State Farm Arena!

This is the Hawks starting 5 for tonight's Play-In Game

The Hornets know they have an up hill battle to get in tthe playoffs. This is the starting 5 for Charlotte tonight.

Tonight's odds:

The Atlanta Hawks come into tonight a 5.5 point underdog according to Bet365.com. The Over/Under is 235.5 between these two explosive offensive teams. Seems a little low to me, but that's easy for me to say. I don't have any money on the game.

They showed last year, they have the team that can compete for the East. This year they will have to work their way into the playoffs.

Charlotte’s main men:

The Hornets have tremendous trio who average a total of almost 60 points a game. The high flying Miles Bridges is the top scorer, but just barely, at 20.2 ppg, while Lamelo Ball is getting 20.1 ppg and 7.6 assists a game in his second year. Taylor Rozier follows closely behind with 19.3 ppg. These three lead one of the most dynamic offenses in the NBA.

ATL’s MVP

Trae Young has carried the Hawks through a disappointing season packed with plenty of promise at the start. His 28.4 points are less than two points fewer than the NBA’s scoring lead Joel Embiid’s 30.6 ppg. He is in fifth in scoring and third in assists with 9.7 a night.

How it works: Play-In Tournament

The Brooklyn Nets are through to the first round of the NBA Playoffs after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 7 vs. 8 seed. The winner of that game is guareenteed the 7th seed and will play the 2nd seed in the conference. The loser of that game, the Cavaliers, get another chance against the 9 vs. 10 winner.

For the full details on the Play-In set up, click here.

Hawks last time out

The Hawks won seven of their last ten games including their last one before the Play-In Tournament against the league’s worst team, the Houston Rockets. Three different players scored 22 points or more as Trae Young put up 28 and 11 assists.

The Hornets pulling up to State Farm showing off the drip

All eyes on the ATL tonight with the stakes high from the State Farm Arena

How they got here: Atlanta

The Atlanta Hawks were in danger of not even qualifying for the Play-In not so long ago, but Trae Young and company have righted the ship and finished the regular season in ninth place and will host tonight’s low seed Play-In game.

How they got here: Charlotte

The Hornets ended the season with a three game win streak, but still finished with the 10th spot in the East. They were in no danger of getting bumped from Play-In position, but still finished the season strong despite end falling a game short of the Hawks for a tie for the eighth spot in the conference.

We are live from Atlanta

Hello everyone, I’m Dane Arlauckas and welcome to Atlanta where the players play (shoutout to Luda) looking to keep their seasons alive. The Hawks ended the season looking like the team that made the conference championship in the East last year. They  will be going up against the Hornets who have one of the most entertaining young teams in the league, and are looking to turn the corner with a first round playoff appearance.

We are live from Atlanta

Hello everyone, I’m Dane Arlauckas and welcome to Atlanta where the players play (shoutout to Luda) looking to keep their seasons alive. The Hawks ended the season looking like the team that made the conference championship in the East last year. They  will be going up against the Hornets who have one of the most entertaining young teams in the league, and are looking to turn the corner with a first round playoff appearance.

Hornets vs. Hawks
It’s a battle for survival for in the Eastern Conference as the Charlotte Hornets head to Atlanta for the second of three Play-In games. AS English will have you covered with live stats, scores, analysis and highlights of tonight’s do-or-die match.