The Atlanta Hawks’ (4-7) already slim hopes of competing for this year’s Emirates NBA Cup have taken a major hit. Trae Young leads a long list of injuries ahead of Tuesday’s East Group C game against the Boston Celtics.
According to the team’s official X account, the star point guard will miss the matchup at TD Garden due to right Achilles tendinitis, keeping him from facing the 2024 NBA champions.
This will mark Young’s first missed game of the season. In the Hawks’ 125-113 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, he logged 14 points and 16 assists across 38 minutes. While the three-time All-Star has struggled with his shooting, hitting just 39 percent, his absence remains crucial. Young currently leads the Eastern Conference in assists, averaging 11.5 per game.
Along with Young, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Bufkin, Vit Krejci, and Cody Zeller will all be sidelined for Atlanta’s first NBA Cup matchup. The Celtics are a daunting opponent even at full strength (Young went 1-for-10 from the field in a 30-point blowout on Nov. 4), so fans might have more reason to shield their eyes than just the flashy court.
The Hawks’ 2024-25 season is, unfortunately, playing out much as fans might have anticipated so far. None of their wins have come against teams with a record above .500. Last Wednesday’s home victory over the New York Knicks was a highlight, as was Young’s postgame taunt to visiting fans. However, as the city well knows, consistency has long been elusive for this franchise.
Atlanta appears to be far removed from its surprising 2021 Conference Finals run, having missed a winning season in each of the last two years. The 2024-25 season seems headed down a similar path, with survival in the competitive Eastern Conference requiring extraordinary grit. That mindset will be particularly crucial in Tuesday night’s matchup against the Celtics, especially with Trae Young sidelined.
