Young and the Hawks take on the Suns
Phoenix Suns (41-9, first in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (24-26, 10th in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Trae Young leads Atlanta into a matchup with Phoenix. He currently ranks fourth in the league averaging 27.7 points per game.
The Hawks have gone 14-12 at home. Atlanta is 5-2 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Suns have gone 19-4 away from home. Phoenix ranks fifth in the league with 45.9 rebounds per game. JaVale McGee paces the Suns with 7.0.
The two teams square off for the second time this season. The Suns defeated the Hawks 121-117 in their last meeting on Nov. 7. Devin Booker led the Suns with 38 points, and Young led the Hawks with 31 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Young is averaging 27.7 points and 9.3 assists for the Hawks. De'Andre Hunter is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games for Atlanta.
Booker is averaging 25.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Suns. Chris Paul is averaging 18.4 points over the last 10 games for Phoenix.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 7-3, averaging 116.2 points, 41.3 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 7.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points per game.
Suns: 10-0, averaging 118.0 points, 46.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.4 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Trae Young: day to day (shoulder).
Suns: Abdel Nader: out (knee), Dario Saric: out (knee), Frank Kaminsky: out (knee), Cameron Payne: out (wrist), Landry Shamet: out (ankle).
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