NBA Recap: Trae Young Leads Hawks Past Celtics, Booker and Durant Power Suns

The Atlanta Hawks stunned the Boston Celtics 119-115 in overtime, while the Phoenix Suns edged the Detroit Pistons 125-121, and the Golden State Warriors downed the Washington Wizards 122-114 in exciting NBA action.

The Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from a recent slump, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-117 on Saturday. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 36 points to help the Cavaliers improve to 35-6. The win marked a welcome return to form for the Eastern Conference leaders, who had lost two of their previous three games, including a 134-114 thrashing at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

The Cavaliers faced an early challenge, trailing by 11 points in the first quarter. However, they rallied to take control of the game, with Mitchell and Darius Garland forming a potent partnership. The duo combined for 65 of Cleveland's points, with Mitchell finishing with 36 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, including four three-pointers. Garland added 29 points, including five-of-ten from three-point range, to help the Cavaliers secure a convincing victory.

make a 3, get a high five from coach. 🫸🫷 #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/eSI02ICie4

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 19, 2025

Anthony Edwards was the top scorer for the Timberwolves, finishing with 28 points, including four three-pointers. Julius Randle narrowly missed out on a triple-double, contributing 20 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists to the Timberwolves' cause. Despite their efforts, however, the Timberwolves were unable to overcome the Cavaliers' strong performance, led by Mitchell's outstanding display.

Trae Young propelled the Atlanta Hawks to a stunning 119-115 overtime upset against the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics. Young scored 28 points, guiding the Hawks to a thrilling victory that featured 17 lead changes. The Celtics initially seemed in control, establishing a 12-point lead early in the game, but the Hawks refused to back down.

The Hawks mounted a remarkable comeback in the second quarter, outscoring the Celtics 31-15 to seize a 52-48 halftime advantage. Boston regained their footing in the third quarter and managed to build a 10-point lead in the fourth. However, Young's clutch free throws in the final seconds of regulation forced overtime, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.

2 Wins in 2 trips here this season...that's no anomaly pic.twitter.com/RuuBxjxOd5

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 19, 2025

In the overtime period, the Hawks' defense rose to the challenge, stifling the Celtics' offense to secure a hard-fought road victory. With this win, Atlanta improved their record to 22-19, while the Celtics remain second in the Eastern Conference with a 29-13 record. The Hawks' impressive upset marked a memorable moment in their season, as they continue to push for a strong playoff position.

In Detroit, the Phoenix Suns edged past the Pistons with a 125-121 victory, thanks to a spectacular performance from their dynamic duo, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The pair combined for 71 points, with Durant scoring 36 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out five assists, while Booker contributed 35 points. This win propelled the Suns to a 21-20 record, securing 10th spot in the Western Conference standings.

Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla remained optimistic despite his team's second loss in three games. Mazzulla expressed his excitement about the challenge of getting the champions back on track, saying, “There is no fear - I'm actually more excited at this juncture of the season than I was at the beginning.” He emphasized, “This is what you sign up for. This is the fun part. There's zero fear whatsoever.”

The Indiana Pacers dominated the Philadelphia 76ers with a 115-102 win in Indianapolis. Tyrese Maxey's 28 points were not enough to overcome the Pacers' balanced offense, which featured six players scoring in double digits. The Sixers were once again without the injured Joel Embiid, which proved to be a significant disadvantage against the Pacers.

Jordan Poole made a memorable return to the Chase Center in San Francisco, scoring 38 points, including eight three-pointers, for the Washington Wizards. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a win against his former team, the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors, led by Andrew Wiggins' 31 points and Stephen Curry's 26 points, emerged victorious with a 122-114 win. Curry suffered a scare when he limped off with an ankle injury in the final minutes, but reports later indicated that he is expected to play on Monday.