Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young (right shoulder contusion) is a game-time decision for Thursday’s home game against Phoenix.
Young was scratched Monday before the Hawks faced the Raptors after he felt discomfort while shooting. He sustained the injury Sunday when making contact with Lakers forward Anthony Davis during the Hawks’ win over Los Angeles.
“It’s getting better,” said Young, who’s played in 45 of the Hawks’ 50 games. “I’m going up there planning to play (Thursday).”
Delon Wright started in Young’s absence Monday, scoring four points and dishing seven assists in 23 minutes. The Hawks’ seven-game win streak was snapped after a faulty third quarter in which the team was outscored 32-15.
Young, 23, is averaging 27.7 points and 9.3 assists per game. He was named an All-Star starter for the second time in his career last week.
Hawks notes:
- The Hawks were 17-25, sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, on Jan. 16, a day before beginning their seven-game win streak. They’ve moved up to 10th, with a 24-26 mark, two games behind the ninth-seeded Celtics.
The schedule softens during the second half, but the Hawks face an uphill climb to avoid the play-in tournament (they would need a top-six seed), especially in an improved East.
“I told y’all when we were 17-25, it only takes a couple streaks for teams to really get going,” Young said. “We had a streak, and we moved up a couple spots, but we have to keep it going.”
- The NBA-best Suns (41-9) present a measuring stick Thursday. Phoenix has won 11 consecutive, posting a 14-1 record in 2022. The Suns defeated the Hawks earlier this season in Phoenix on Nov. 6, the fourth victory of an 18-game win streak.
“They’re playing great basketball,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said, also praising Suns coach Monty Williams. “They’ve pretty much been the hottest team all season along. Chris Paul is having an MVP-caliber season, where he has that team again. They’ve really taken off from two years ago in the bubble (when the Suns first showed drastic improvement).”
- After going nearly two months without a home win, the Hawks have six wins at State Farm Arena since Jan. 17. They’re 14-12 at home overall.
- It was somewhat of a surprise that big man Onyeka Okongwu wasn’t named to the Rising Stars roster Tuesday. Since returning to the Hawks in December after offseason shoulder surgery, Okongwu, 21, has shown real promise as a budding defensive anchor. He’s been key in the Hawks’ recent turnaround, helping stabilize the bench.
The second-year player is averaging nearly 10 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes per contest. He’s played in 18 games, starting six. Okongwu tweeted three yawning emojis when rosters were announced.
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