Injury Layoff Ends for Hawks’ Star
Atlanta Hawks’ star guard Trae Young returned to action after missing 23 games due to a torn ligament in his left finger. Making his comeback against the Charlotte Hornets, Young played 21 minutes and contributed 14 points and 11 assists. However, despite his efforts, the Hawks fell short to the Hornets, losing by a narrow margin of 114-115, extending their losing streak to four games.
Injury and Recovery
Young sustained the injury to his left finger on February 24th during a game against the Toronto Raptors. After undergoing an MRI scan, it was revealed that he had torn the radial collateral ligament in his left pinky finger, requiring surgery and nearly two months of recovery time.
Solid Return Performance
In his return game, Young showcased his skills with a perfect shooting performance, going 5-for-5 from the field, including 2 three-pointers. Despite playing only three quarters, he managed to record a double-double with 14 points, 11 assists, and 4 rebounds, albeit with 5 turnovers. Young expressed satisfaction with the condition of his finger in a post-game interview.
Bogdanovic Breaks Three-Point Record
Hawks’ sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic had an impressive performance, sinking 5 three-pointers and contributing 19 points and 8 assists. With his 235th three-pointer of the season, Bogdanovic surpassed Young’s previous franchise record of 233 three-pointers set in 2022. Young jokingly remarked after the game, “Can’t you see I’ve been feeding him to break the record?”
Heartbreaking Loss
Despite holding a lead of up to 18 points, the Hawks suffered a devastating loss as the Hornets staged a dramatic comeback in the fourth quarter. Miles Bridges sealed the victory for the Hornets with a fast-break layup with just 3.1 seconds remaining, securing a 115-114 win. With the loss, the Hawks, currently ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference, are set to face the 9th-seeded Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament. (JILIEVO)
