The Atlanta Hawks might see the return of star guard Trae Young as they try to end a three-game home losing streak against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
Young, who is averaging 23.9 points and leads the NBA with 11 assists per game, suffered a right rib sprain in the third quarter of Atlanta’s 123-93 loss to Boston on Monday. Although Hawks coach Quin Snyder did not provide an immediate timetable for Young’s return, the three-time All-Star was listed as probable on Tuesday’s injury report.
The Hawks have already dealt with several injuries this season. Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) and Vit Krejci (hip) are both out for multiple weeks, and fellow guard Kobe Bufkin remains sidelined after partially dislocating his shoulder for the second time last month.
If Young is unable to play Wednesday, Dyson Daniels, Garrison Mathews, and rookie Keaton Wallace will take on primary ball-handling duties for the Hawks, who have lost five of their last six games after a 2-0 start.
More scoring responsibility may fall on forward Jalen Johnson, who is averaging 18.4 points per game. Johnson initially struggled after signing a five-year, $150 million contract last month but has since scored 20 or more points in four of the last five games, posting double-digit rebounds three times during that span.
New York, which is wrapping up a four-game road trip, has won the last three meetings in Atlanta. This is the first of four matchups between the teams this season. The Knicks won the first two games of their trip before losing 109-97 to the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 29 points and eight assists, but with the rest of the offense struggling, he was forced to play 42 minutes and was visibly fatigued by the end of the game. He missed three consecutive shots in the final 2:16 after the Knicks had cut the lead to three points.
Brunson leads the Knicks with 26.0 points and 6.0 assists per game, while Karl-Anthony Towns averages 21.3 points and a team-best 12.5 rebounds. This will be the first time Towns faces the Hawks in a New York uniform. In 15 career games against Atlanta, Towns has averaged 23.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He was acquired by the Knicks from Minnesota on October 2.
New York may see the return of Cameron Payne after he missed Monday’s game with a strained left hamstring. Payne is averaging 5.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in five games this season.
Meanwhile, the Hawks might welcome back De’Andre Hunter, who has missed the last six games with a right knee injury. Hunter, who has 36 points and 13 rebounds in two games this season, was listed as questionable on Tuesday’s injury report.
