Atlanta Hawks all-star guard Trae Young was back in the starting lineup on his home court for the first time in two months. And it still didn’t matter. The Hawks lost for the fourth time in their last five games, 152-150, to the Chicago Bulls.
Despite the loss, Young was able to remind Hawks fans why he has been considered one of the best shooters in the sport during his career, all of which has taken place in Atlanta. With the Hsweks down 133-129, Young returned to the court and put on a shooting display. The Oklahoma kid made three three-pointers and two free throws in the span of six minutes.
With Atlanta down 152-150 with just under five seconds remaining in the game, Young took the last shot of the game. He missed, but he was back, and for the Hawks, that is going to matter long past this game.
The Hawks began a two-game set against the Chicago Bulls, and Young was back in the starting lineup after missing Friday’s loss to San Antonio. The tipoff was at 3:30 p.m., a half-hour before the Atlanta Falcons kicked off against the Cardinals in Arizona. The Bulls are scheduled to return to State Farm Arena on Tuesday, December 23, two days before Christmas.
The Bulls got off to a hot start, going up 21-10 and forcing a Hawks timeout. Over the past couple of weeks, the Hawks have had issues with falling behind early. Atlanta pulled back within three points at 25-22 midway through the quarter when second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher nailed a corner three-pointer in front of the Bulls bench.
The first quarter would end with the score tied at 38, and Atlanta would get its first lead of the game at the beginning of the second quarter after reserve guard Vit Krejci made consecutive three-pointers. Two Risacher three-pointers gave Atlanta another lead at 50-48 at the eight-minute mark. The Hawks’ bench, especially Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.7 points per game), will be vital to any playoff push this team makes this season.
Chicago guard Josh Giddey, a dark-horse candidate to be selected to his first All-Star Game, is averaging over 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists per game. Giddey had started all 25 games for the Bulls this season, and on Sunday, he was back on the court in Atlanta. The 6-8 guard is a teammate of Hawks guard Dyson Daniels on the Australian National Team.
Giddey was able to get to the basket during the game, and his layup with 7:13 remaining in the second quarter put Chicago up 54-50. His dunk and three-pointer early in the second half would help keep Chicago in front.
The teams exchanged leads early in the second quarter before the Bulls went ahead by seven points, 75-68, with a minute to play in the half. That lead would be extended to 10 points, 83-73, at halftime after Huerter hit a three-pointer in front of the Hawks’ bench.
Young made his first two three-point attempts of the second half. His scoring touch was needed this season as the Hawks lost several close games down the stretch. For the time being, Jalen Johnson, the Hawks’ go-to guy during Young’s absence, and Alexander-Walker were doing their part to keep the game close. Johnson scored on consecutive drives to the rim, while Alexander-Walker hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 102 with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter. Both players were counted on to keep the Hawks competitive while Young was gone, and they more than accomplished that goal.
Krejci has come a long way during his time in the league with Atlanta. Coming off the bench for the Hawks, he has been a steady contributor this season. Krejci’s three-pointer off an assist from Johnson gave Atlanta a 108-107 lead and forced Bulls head coach Billy Donovan to call a timeout. Chicago would go back in front, 116-115, at the end of the third quarter.
With Chicago ahead by a score of 119-118, Johnson found Daniels for an easy dunk to give Atlanta a one-point lead. It was his seventh assist of the game. Johnson has six triple-doubles this season, an Atlanta Hawks record.
The post Trae Young was back in the Atlanta Hawks starting lineup for 152-150 loss to Chicago Bulls appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.