Hawks and Pelicans are on the last bus to NBA playoffs

The Atlanta Hawks rallied to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, securing the final NBA Eastern Conference playoff berth. Trae Young scored 32 of his 38 points in the second half.

The New Orleans Pelicans clinched the last playoff place in the Western Conference by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 105-101 in Los Angeles.

In the play-in game, the Hawks overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to set up a first-round series with Eastern Conference top seeds Miami, with game one set for Sunday.

In the first round, the Pelicans will meet the top-seeded Phoenix Suns of the Western Conference.

In dramatic fashion, New Orleans clinched their first playoff berth since 2018.

New Orleans stormed out to a 16-point lead in the second quarter, thanks to Brandon Ingram’s 30 points and Larry Nance Jr.’s 14 points and 16 rebounds against a Clippers club that learned Friday morning that All-Star Paul George would be absent due to coronavirus fears.

However, the Clippers rallied in the third quarter, going on a 20-2 scoring run to start the second half. In the fourth quarter, the Lakers led by as many as 13 points before the Pelicans rallied.

“I knew the stakes were high; we all wanted to make the playoffs,” Ingram said. “I was determined to do whatever it needed tonight, whether it was on the defensive or offensive end,” he said.

In Cleveland, a young Cavaliers team came one step short of qualifying for the post-season for the first time since LeBron James left the team in 2018.

Early on, the Cavs had the upper hand, but Young found his stride in the second half, and five Hawks players scored in double figures to complete the comeback.

Young, who had four turnovers and six points before halftime, remarked, “I felt like I was letting my team down in the first half.”

“I had a few photos that I didn’t get. We were only down ten points at halftime, so I knew I had to score some more baskets for my teammates.”

Young, in fact, cranked up his game on every level. He had a hand in 43 of Atlanta’s 56 second-half points, which was more than the 40 points Cleveland scored after the break.

When center Clint Capela left with a hyperextended right knee shortly before halftime, Young claimed it was only “additional motivation.”

Capela had grabbed Cavs youngster Evan Mobley from behind when he was shooting, but Mobley tumbled back into Capela’s knees, causing the veteran to collapse to the ground, clutching his injured knee.

The call of a common foul stood after officials reviewed the play, but Capela was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Young stated, “We wanted to win for him. We understand how hard he’s worked all year to get the playoffs. We’re hoping he’ll be able to make a comeback for us.”

Cleveland had surged out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, aided by Lauri Markkanen’s 17 first-half points from three-point range.

With 26 points, Markkanen led the Cavaliers, while Darius Garland contributed 21.

After missing 19 games due to a fractured left finger, All-Star center Jarrett Allen returned to Cleveland’s starting lineup, scoring 11 points and grabbing three rebounds.

However, with Young leading the way, the Hawks flipped the script in the third quarter, grabbing the lead for the first time on a three-pointer by Young with 1:42 remaining.

Young, whose driving basket early in the fourth quarter put the Hawks up for good, added, “Nobody had to say anything to me.”

“I know the effort I put in and the confidence I have, and I need to demonstrate it.”