NEWSLETTER
The Atlanta Hawks could be without their star player against the Bulls tonight, as they try to avoid the season sweep at home.
Trae Young was listed as questionable on this afternoon’s official injury report, and head coach Nate McMillian said the decision to play the All-Star could come down to the wire:
Nate McMillan said that Trae Young is a gametime decision. John Collins is out.
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) March 3, 2022
While Young has struggled in his three matchups against the Chicago Bulls this season – scoring just 14 points on 3-17 shooting when the two teams met on February 24th – there is no question his presence makes a substantial difference. Young is averaging 27.9 points per game as the NBA’s 7th-leading scorer, and his 9.3 assists per game check-in 4th-highest in the league behind Chris Paul, James Harden, and Dejounte Murray, respectively.
As one of the best long-range threats in the league and one of the peskiest foul drawers, he gives the Hawks a chance to win almost any night he is on the court. So, duh, remove him from the equation and the night becomes that much easier for the Bulls’ 20th-ranked defense.
Also, if Young isn’t given the green light, he will join both Onyeka Okongwu and John Collins on the sideline. Okongwu is dealing with a concussion while Collins is working his way back from a foot injury. Both players rank second and third on the team in rebounds per game behind big man Clint Capela.
