Hurting Hawks aim to solve home struggles vs. Knicks
The Atlanta Hawks could welcome back star guard Trae Young when they try to end a three-game home losing streak against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
Young, who averages 23.9 points and leads the NBA with 11 assists per game entering Tuesday, suffered a right rib sprain in the third quarter of Atlanta's 123-93 home loss to Boston on Monday.
Hawks coach Quin Synder did not immediately give a timetable for Young's return after Monday's game, but the three-time All-Star was listed as probable on Tuesday's injury report.
Atlanta has already dealt with injuries to multiple players less than a month into the regular season.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) and Vit Krejci (hip) are both out multiple weeks, and fellow guard Kobe Bufkin continues to sit after partially dislocating his shoulder for a second time last month.
If Young can't go Wednesday, Dyson Daniels, Garrison Mathews and rookie Keaton Wallace will be the primary ball-handlers for the Hawks, who have lost five of six after a 2-0 start.
"We've got a lot of guys, they're competing," Snyder said. "That's all that you can ask. Even when games are lopsided like this one, there are things you can take away from it. We'll try to do that."
More scoring responsibility could fall on forward Jalen Johnson, who is averaging 18.4 points per game.
Johnson seemed to be pressing early after signing a five-year, $150 million contract last month, but he has scored 20-plus points in four of the last five games while posting double-digit rebounds three times during that span.
New York, which is completing 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 treading water, he was forced to play 42 minutes and was fatigued by the end of game. He missed three consecutive shots in the final 2:16 after the Knicks cut the lead to three points remaining.
"He wanted to go," New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He's in great shape. You're not going to make every shot. So, take your shots."
Brunson paces 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 Hawks nemesis Towns has faced them in a New York uniform. In 15 career appearances against Atlanta, Towns is averaging 23.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He was acquired by the Knicks from Minnesota on Oct. 2.
New York may get Cameron Payne back after the guard missed Monday's game due to 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 may 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.
