Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young has the opportunity to make NBA history in Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls. He has recorded at least 30 points and 10 assists in each of the past seven games, tying Oscar Robertson’s record for the longest streak in league history. Despite Young’s offensive prowess, the Hawks have a 3-4 record during his streak and have lost their last two games.
Young expressed a desire to shift the focus away from his individual stats and emphasized the importance of securing a win. He also discussed the imminent return of Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, who had been sidelined with a wrist injury since Nov. 25. Johnson, averaging career highs of 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game before his injury, is expected to return against the Bulls.
Young acknowledged Johnson’s significant contributions to the team, especially in terms of size and rebounding, areas where the Hawks have struggled recently. Johnson’s return could provide much-needed toughness in a matchup against the Bulls, known for their offensive rebounding prowess.
The Hawks will be without forward De’Andre Hunter, who is undergoing a non-surgical procedure to address knee inflammation, and he will be sidelined for at least two more weeks. The Bulls, dealing with injuries themselves, have been without Zach Lavine since Nov. 30 but have found scoring support from Demar DeRozan and Coby White.
White, in particular, has had a standout season with career highs in points, field goals, 3-point percentage, and assists. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan praised White’s performance, highlighting his improvement in reading the pick-and-roll game. While the Bulls have struggled offensively, ranking fourth-to-last in points scored per game, the Hawks boast the league’s third-best offense.
This Tuesday’s game marks the first meeting between the Hawks and the Bulls this season, with their next matchup scheduled for Feb. 12 in Atlanta.