The Atlanta Hawks are having a good year, all things considered. The Hawks sit 15-12 on the year, which puts them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta has been in the Play-In game purgatory for the past few years, but just one game separates them from third place in the East heading into Christmas. The great news for the Hawks is that they will be getting Trae Young back from his knee injury on Thursday night.
Per Shams Charania of ESPN, Young is set to make his return on Thursday night as the Hawks take on the Charlotte Hornets in the first game of a back-to-back.
The star guard will return on Thursday, but nothing has been said about what his minutes will look like. But it is common for players returning from knee injuries to see a minutes restriction as they get back into the swing of things.
Hawks Thrived in Trae Young’s Absence
Atlanta is a team that a lot of people expected to make some noise in the East this season. With the season approximately a third of the way done, the Hawks are right in the thick of things. As mentioned, they are in seventh place in the conference, but things could change in a hurry.
The Hawks’ success this season has not been because of Young, though. The 27-year-old got hurt on October 29th, so he has missed almost two months of game action. In that time, Atlanta had a 13-9 record. Since his injury, the Hawks have put up 118.9 points per game.
In Young’s absence, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has stepped up in a big way. NAW entered the starting lineup and has been a huge asset for Atlanta. Since Young’s injury, Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.2 points per game, and he is shooting over 40% from three. On the season, he has the third-best usage rate on the Hawks, not including Young.
Jalen Johnson is the main reason for Atlanta’s success, though. The 24-year-old is the leading scorer on the Hawks with 22.1 points per game. Along with his scoring, Johnson has been contributing in all facets of the game. In fact, Johnson has recorded four straight Triple-Doubles heading into Thursday night.
The Hawks are ecstatic to get Young back on the court, but they have been in good hands without him.
Trae Young’s Return Makes For Intriguing Matchup
There was a time not so long ago when a Trae Young vs. LaMelo Ball matchup was must-see TV. The Hawks getting their star guard back, the same game the Hornets are expected to get LaMelo Ball back, makes for a very intriguing night.
Young is three years Ball’s elder, but the two have squared off 10 times. In those 10 games, they are 5-5 against each other. Young is averaging 23.2 points and 9.5 assists per game. Ball is averaging 22.2 points and 8.3 assists per game.
These two have made for some great games, despite the struggles of both franchises. The Hawks should have the edge on Thursday night, but there are no guarantees in the NBA.
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