Hawks at Grizzlies
The Atlanta Hawks could be without All-Star point guard Trae Young for the second straight game when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Young missed Friday night's 118-112 road loss against the Washington Wizards due to flu-like symptoms and his status is uncertain for Saturday.
Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said Young remained at the team hotel instead of coming to the arena and he said the illness didn't rate as a major concern. "There's no respiratory issues, he just didn't feel well," Pierce told.reporters. "... There's nothing, I don't think, overly concerning for us. Just needing to get him some rest, and the best way was to keep him at the hotel." Memphis routed the Hawks 127-88 in Atlanta on Monday as part of a three-game winning streak in which it allowed an average of 85 points. However, that defense was missing in action on Friday as the host Dallas Mavericks knocked down 18 3-pointers while rolling to a 121-96 victory.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast
ABOUT THE HAWKS (19-45): Second-year guard Kevin Huerter picked up the ball-handling slack with Young out and delivered a career-best 11 assists. "We had to put the ball in his hands a little bit more than normal," Pierce said of Huerter. "He's always been a willing passer. Not only does he look for his shots but he's able to make plays for others guys and that's just a reflection of him stepping up in that role." Huerter added 14 points and has scored in double digits in five straight games.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (31-32): Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said the defense was below par in the first and third quarters when Dallas scored 33 and 34 points, respectively, in a contest his squad trailed by 30 after three quarters. Center Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points (on 7-of-8 shooting), collected 11 rebounds and has been in double digits on the boards in 13 of the past 14 games. "I thought he did OK," Jenkins told reporters of Valanciunas. "I think all of us have to be a lot better. I think he knows he has to play better (Saturday)."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Young was just 5-of-17 shooting while scoring just 19 points in Monday's loss to the Grizzlies.
2. Atlanta rookie F Cam Reddish scored a season-best 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting against Washington.
3. Memphis rookie PG Ja Morant was 4-of-11 shooting while recording 11 points and eight assists against Dallas.