Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Hawks definitely chose violence after Wednesday’s game.

The Hawks fire-roasted the Phoenix Suns in a nationally-televised contest, winning 132-100. The game was effectively over by the second quarter as Atlanta got out to a 20-point lead and Phoenix never got much closer.

After the game, the Hawks, who led by as many as 43 points, went viral for their savage tweet. They posted a picture of the lopsided score with the caption, “hits a huge three to cut the lead to 41.”

That is a reference to Phoenix’s notorious meltdown in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals last season against the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns were similarly flattened in that game, losing 123-90 after trailing by as many as 46. The beatdown led to a funny Internet meme about Chris Paul’s three-pointer in the fourth quarter that cut the Mavericks’ lead to 42.

Like that Game 7, Wednesday’s game took place in Phoenix and played out in an almost-identical fashion. While you have to tip your cap to the Hawks for making the most of their opportunity for savagery. The Suns clearly don’t want to be reminded of that infamous game. After all, the thrashing by the Mavs broke some things in them that still haven’t been fixed.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Mavericks advance to Western Conference Finals aided by controversial call late
Connor McDavid, Oilers hammer Canucks to force Game 7
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Seize the Grey wins in muddy Preakness
Even Mike Budenholzer admits the Suns need a point guard
Watch: Juan Soto's first multi-homer game as a Yankee
Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa lead at PGA Championship
Knicks could get major boost for Game 7 showdown with Pacers
Giants All-Star pitcher suffers setback in recovery from injury
Panthers star named winner of 2024 Selke Trophy
WNBA to investigate $100,000 sponsorship deals for Aces players
Tiger Woods blames one big factor for missing the cut at PGA Championship
'Ain't good enough': Draymond Green claims Celtics must 'win it all' or it's a 'failure'
Blue Jays GM wants struggling club to feel 'massive sense of urgency'
Raptors expected to flip former NBA champion during the offseason
MLB insider reveals Mets' massive extension offer that Pete Alonso turned down
Celtics legend provides update after gruesome finger injury
Bulls hire former NBA head coach as top assistant
Chiefs move on from young running back
20-year MLB veteran working out, unsure about playing future

Want more NBA news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.