UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans were handed the task of winning two games to advance to the NBA’s conference quarterfinals. Both have succeeded.
Trae Young scored 32 of his 38 points in the second half of the Hawks’ 107-101 win over the Cavaliers. The All-Star guard scored 16 points in third quarter to rally the Hawks from a 10-point halftime deficit. He added another 16 in the fourth to finish off the Cavs.
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 19 points for Atlanta, which overcame the loss of Clint Capela to a knee injury.
The Hawks advanced with two victories in the play-in, setting up a meeting with the top-seed Heat. The Cavaliers went 0-2.
Lauri Markkanen scored 26 and Darius Garland 21 for Cleveland.
The Pelicans overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Clippers, 105-101 in a play-in.
Brandon Ingram poured in 30 points and CJ McCollum added 19 points for New Orleans, which will play No. 1 seed Phoenix in the Western Conference quarterfinals beginning Sunday.
The Clippers trailed by 16 in the first half and by 10 at intermission before opening the third quarter on a 20-2 run. The Pelicans regrouped and outscored Los Angeles, 47-35 over the final 17 minutes.
Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson each had 27 points for the Clippers.
