CLEVELAND — Trae Young scored 35 points, Clint Capela had 18 points and a season-high 23 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 16-point deficit for a 121-118 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Young made a pair of free throws with 7.6 seconds left after Cleveland had pulled within 119-118 on a Brandon Goodwin layup. Kevin Love scored a season-high 35 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jarrett Allen scored 21 with eight boards, but the Cavs (20-16) shot just 58% from the charity stripe and Kevin Pangos missed a potential game-tying 3 as time expired.
Pangos started at point guard with Darius Garland out with COVID-19 and Ricky Rubio done for the year after tearing his ACL. Prior to the game, the Cavaliers reportedly traded Denzel Valentine to the Los Angeles Lakers for 16-year veteran Rajon Rondo to add some much-needed depth to their backcourt.
Atlanta snapped a three-game losing streak despite having 12 players in the NBA's health and safety protocols. Cleveland has now lost three straight, with Cedi Osman joining Garland on the COVID list.
Still fifth in the Eastern Conference as the new year begins, the Cavaliers are off Saturday before hosting the Indiana Pacers Sunday evening in their first game of 2022.
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