The Hawks are coming off a couple of big games in the NBA Cup playoffs. Trae Young led the charge in their win over the Knicks, but things didn’t go their way against the Bucks. A lot of fans thought they might pull off an upset and keep the run going, but now, the Atlanta side is getting ready for a game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. With a 14-13 record, they’re sitting in 7th place in the Eastern Conference. They’ll have a few extra days of rest, so let’s see if they can turn things around.

Ice Trae is absolutely balling this season, and it’s hard not to notice. The 26-year-old is dropping 21.5 points per game, ranking 33rd in the league, while leading the NBA with 12.1 assists. He knocked down 60% of his 3-pointers against the Bucks, keeping the Hawks in the fight until the very end. At this rate, Young’s performance is undeniable, and he’s definitely one of the most exciting players to watch.

But whether or not he’ll play against the Spurs is uncertain. Young’s been dealing with right Achilles tendinitis for a while now, but the good news is he’s listed as probable for Thursday’s game against the Spurs. That “probable” tag is a promising sign that he’ll likely be good to go and can keep up his usual heavy workload. It’s clear that Ice Trae’s not letting this injury keep him from shining on the court. I mean, when it’s game time, you know he’s gonna show up.

There are three other players listed on the Hawks’ injury report.

Can the Hawks move on from their dreamy NBA Cup run fueled by Trae Young’s heroics?

Tough break for Kobe Bufkin—he’ll miss the rest of the 2024-25 season after surgery for right shoulder instability, as reported by Michael Scotto of USA Today. While it’s a disappointing setback for the second-year guard, the good news is that he’s expected to fully recover before the 2025-26 season kicks off. Meanwhile, Onyeka Okongwu is out with left knee inflammation. According to Marc Stein, he will miss at least four games and doctors will re-evaluate him in about a week.

That means Okongwu will sit out against the Spurs, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, and Bulls. The earliest he could return is for the Dec. 28 game against the Heat. Okongwu has been a key piece in the Hawks’ center rotation alongside Clint Capela, putting up 11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Don’t forget, he’s also adding 1.4 steals + blocks, making his absence more noticeable. On top of that, Cody Zeller is out for personal reasons and won’t be available for Thursday’s game against the Spurs.

De’Andre Hunter and Dyson Daniels have stepped up big-time for the Hawks this season. Hunter has been a reliable contributor off the bench, averaging 19.3 points across 16 games. Meanwhile, Daniels is carving out a name for himself just like Johnson. Not only is he scoring 13.4 points pg but also grabbing 5.1 rebounds, dishing out 3.4 assists, and leading the NBA in steals with 3.0 per game.

In terms of team stats, the Hawks are sitting pretty at 9th in the NBA with 116.2 points per game. The Spurs, on the other hand, are putting up 110.9 points per game, ranking 19th. It’ll be interesting to see how this battle of offense plays out.

So, what’s your take? Will the Hawks’ scoring firepower overpower the Spurs, or can San Antonio surprise us?