Daniels ejected as Hawks’ NBA hopes come crashing down
Melissa Woods |
Dyson Daniels has been forced to watch his Atlanta Hawks blow their first-round Eastern Conference play-off series against New York, with the Boomers star ejected in the first half.
The Hawks were thrashed on their home turf in Georgia, the Knicks taking game six 140-89 to seal the series win 4-2 on Thursday (Friday AEST).
It was the second-worst post-season loss in Hawks history, while the Knicks celebrated scoring the club’s most points and their largest winning margin in a play-off game.
A frustrated Daniels and New York’s Mitchell Robinson were ejected with 4.39 minutes remaining in the first half after a scuffle turned ugly.
The pair tangled while OG Anunoby was at the free-throw line, extending the Knicks’ mammoth first-half lead to 50 points.
While battling for position, Daniels hit Robinson with a high elbow and pushing ensued, the melee spilling towards fans sitting courtside
Official Brent Barnaky was knocked to the floor as the two players were held apart by teammates and officials.
Upon review both players were assessed for a technical foul and ejected from the game, with Daniels’ match finishing after just 14.52 minutes, which included one three-pointer, one steal and two turnovers.
It was the Australian guard’s first ejection in his NBA career.
Atlanta’s 83-36 deficit was the largest at halftime in NBA play-off history, with Anunoby scoring 26 of his 29 points in the first half.
New York led by as many as 61 and beat the Hawks for the third straight game to advance to the conference semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year.
The third-seeded Knicks next face either second seeds Boston or seventh-seeded Philadelphia, whose series is locked at 3-3 after the 76ers beat the Celtics 106-93 on Thursday.
Anunoby shot 11-for-14 from the field and added seven rebounds and four steals.
“I work hard on my game and the ball finds me,” Anunoby said.
His teammate Mikal Bridges scored 24 points, and Jalen Brunson had 17 points and eight assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns had his second career play-off triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, as well as three steals.
Sixth-seeded Atlanta were led by Jalen Johnson with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
The Hawks were their own worst enemies, with 19 turnovers and making only 37.8 per cent from the field.
“I did not see it going down like this tonight, none of us did,” said Atlanta’s CJ McCollum, who scored 11 points.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder said he didn’t see exactly what happened between Daniels and Robinson.
“I couldn’t see the details of the situation, who did what to whom,” Snyder said.
“I know that both teams were competing and they were having their way with us on many, many levels – as evidenced by the scoreboard.”
– with AP
AAP