Knicks at Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks hope to have a few more available bodies when they host the New York Knicks on Sunday. Playing without All-Star guard Trae Young (ankle), as well as any of the several players acquired at the trade deadline, the short-handed Hawks put up a fight before falling 112-107 at Boston on Friday.
"We've just got to play with effort, no matter if we're short-handed or not," guard Kevin Huerter told reporters after scoring 25 points in the loss. "It's the kind of thing you've got to do to piece games together. ... Hopefully Sunday we can get more people on the court." Young, who entered Saturday ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring (29.3) and second in assists (9.0), has been listed as questionable. The Knicks have won a season-high four straight after outlasting Detroit 95-92 on Saturday. New York had a 47-28 advantage on the glass, with guard Elfrid Payton hauling in a season high-tying nine boards to lead the way.
TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: MSG, FS Southeast
ABOUT THE KNICKS (17-36): New York will be aiming for its first five-game winning streak in more five years. Julius Randle and Wayne Ellington led the way in the win at Detroit with 17 points apiece, and Randle had a big basket in the closing seconds to help New York improve to 9-18 on the road. Payton is averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 assists and three steals over the last four games.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (14-39): John Collins had 30 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to the Celtics for his sixth straight double-double. The emerging 22-year-old is averaging 25 points and 12.7 rebounds during that stretch and has shot better than 50 percent from the floor in each of his last 13 games. Brandon Goodwin took advantage of some extra minutes with Young out Friday night and responded with a career high-tying 21 points in 28 minutes off the bench.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Huerter is averaging 19.8 points in four games this month while making 15-of-35 3-pointers.
2. Knicks rookie SG RJ Barrett had three points on 1-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes Saturday in his second game since returning from an ankle injury
3. Barrett scored 27 points to help offset 42 by Young in a 143-120 victory at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 17.