ATLANTA – The Cleveland Cavaliers must be sick of the Atlanta Hawks by now, with coach Kenny Atkinson admitting that his side were outplayed once again on Nov 29.

De’Andre Hunter scored 23 points off the bench as the Hawks swooped for another NBA (National Basketball Association) victory over the Cavs – their second in two days over the Eastern Conference leaders.

Atlanta, who handed Cleveland their first home defeat of the season on Nov 27, came out on top at home, parlaying a 52-50 half-time lead into a 117-101 triumph.

It was enough to put them into the NBA Cup knockout rounds as winner of their group after the Boston Celtics beat the Bulls 138-129 in Chicago.

“They outplayed us,” Atkinson said after the Cavaliers were held to their lowest point total of the season.

“Sometimes you just have to call it like you see it.

“They beat us pretty good, I think, two straight games. I don’t know what to say. You just have to give them credit. They’ve been the better team. We didn’t play great either game, and this is the NBA. They are a talented team. We obviously didn’t shoot the ball well tonight.”

Trae Young scored 21 points and handed out 11 assists and Jalen Johnson chipped in 20 points for Atlanta, who had six players score in double figures.

Darius Garland scored 29 points for Cleveland and Evan Mobley added 24 points for the Cavs, who opened the season on a 15-0 tear and at 17-3 still boast the best record in the league.

The Hawks also held Cavs star Donovan Mitchell to 12 points and out-scored Cleveland 39-23 in the third quarter to take control for good in the contest that was one of 10 NBA Cup group-stage games scheduled on the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov 29.

The NBA champions Celtics maintained their hopes of advancing as a wildcard in the in-season tournament with their win over Chicago – who came into their game fighting the Hawks for group supremacy.

Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and pulled down 14 rebounds and reserve Payton Pritchard scored 19 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, to help Boston pull away in a see-saw battle that featured 14 lead changes.

Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis scored 21 points apiece for the Celtics while Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 32 points and 11 rebounds.

The New York Knicks, buoyed by Jalen Brunson’s fourth-quarter heroics, improved to 3-0 in Cup play with a 99-98 victory over the ...