On Wednesday, the New York Knicks were in complete control of their NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Atlanta Hawks for one half.

But Atlanta stormed back with a third-quarter burst en route to a 108-100 victory and a trip to the semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Knicks had a 28-22 lead after one quarter of play, which they extended to 54-47 at halftime. The lead grew to 62-52 early in the third quarter. But the Hawks looked like a different team for most of the second half, taking their first lead at 68-66 on a catch-and-shoot 3 by Trae Young.

The Knicks never led again. The Hawks outscored the Knicks 34-18 in the third quarter and fought off a Knicks run in the fourth quarter to silence a frantic crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Young scored 12 of his 22 points in the third quarter in a performance that mirrored his performance in the 2021 playoffs in a first-round loss to the Knicks. He added 11 assists and five rebounds.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Knicks cut their deficit to nine points, 93-87. But the Hawks withstood the run and fought back to secure the eight-point win. As the final seconds ticked down, Young rolled the dice on the Knicks logo, sending a clear message. The Hawks travel to Las Vegas. The Knicks are not.

How the Hawks won

The Hawks controlled the ball after halftime with a dominant shot on the offensive glass. They finished the game with a 58-49 rebounding advantage, which included 22 offensive rebounds.

For Atlanta, this wasn’t a one-man show. Fourth-year breakout forward Jalen Johnson repeatedly made big plays on both ends of the court, tallying 21 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.

De’Andre Hunter scored 24 points off the bench, making 4 of 5 shots from distance. Onyeka Okongwu posted a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks off the bench. It’s the kind of performance Atlanta expects from a young squad looking to work its way up the Eastern Conference pecking order.

It’s not the type of play the Hawks have shown consistently this season, off to a 14-12 start. But on Wednesday, they stepped onto a big stage in front of a hostile crowd in a playoff-like atmosphere. They have now won seven of their last eight games on the way to the NBA Cup semifinals.

The Knicks had a balanced performance on offense, with all five starters scoring in double figures, led by Josh Hart with 21 points. But Jalen Brunson struggled from the field with a 5-of-15 shooting attempt that yielded 14 points and eight assists.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and three blocks. But he spent most of the second half in foul trouble before committing a foul in the final minute of the game. No other Knicks player finished with double-digit rebounds, while the Hawks had three players with 11 or more.

The Hawks face the Bucks on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Knicks have been eliminated from the NBA Cup and will play the Orlando Magic on Sunday.