Knicks at Hawks
Trae Young put back-to-back subpar outings behind him and now looks to make it two consecutive superb efforts when the Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks on Wednesday. The All-Star point guard contributed 31 points and 16 assists on Monday when the Hawks recorded a 143-138 double-overtime victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets.
Young was just 9-of-33 shooting, including 1-of-14 from 3-point range, in his previous two appearances before notching his 27th double-double of the season against the Hornets. Young ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring (29.4) and is one 3-pointer away from becoming the seventh player this season to reach 200. New York has lost nine of its last 12 games after sustaining a 122-115 road loss against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game road trip. The Knicks let an 18-point, third-quarter lead get away and gave up more than 120 points for the third time in the past five games.
TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: MSG, FS Southeast
ABOUT THE KNICKS (20-45): Reserve point guard Frank Ntilikina scored a career-best 20 points and matched his season high of 10 assists against the Wizards in perhaps the best all-around effort of his three-year career. "He just played with a lot of command with his game," New York interim coach Mike Miller told reporters afterward. "He did a good job with play calls, he was aggressive when he needed to be aggressive, he was in a good rhythm shooting the ball. He got to his spots, he made shots." Ntilikina averaged just six points while making 8-of-19 shots over the previous three games.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (20-46): Power forward John Collins made 12-of-13 shots while recording 28 points and 11 rebounds against the Hornets. Collins played 46 minutes in the marathon contest and tweaked an ankle but is expected to be ready to go versus the Knicks. Rookie backup guard Cam Reddish contributed 22 points and seven rebounds against Charlotte and has scored 20 or more points in four of the past eight games as his confidence - and average (10.5) - continues to soar.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Knicks have won four of the last six meetings, including a split of this season's two matchups.
2. New York PG Dennis Smith Jr. cleared the concussion protocol on Tuesday but still missed his sixth straight game.
3. Atlanta rookie F De'Andre Hunter had 13 points and 11 rebounds versus Charlotte for his third double-double of the season.