Day 1 of the NBA Cup knockouts had a lot to offer for the fans’ appetite. Tonight, we move into Day 2, starting with the Atlanta Hawks taking on the New York Knicks at the iconic Madison Square Garden. Coming into the game, both teams have a lot of baggage, especially the Hawks. Trae Young & Co. will step on the court right after they suffered a humiliating loss against the Denver Nuggets. Moreover, they have an injury-riddled lineup for tonight’s action.

This season, the Hawks had an unexpected explosion from Dyson Daniel, a third-year guard from Australia. Suddenly, the team, which looked incomplete after Dejounte Murray, became favorites for the postseason. Jalen Johnson, the fourth-year forward straight out of Duke, has had a career-high season, averaging 19.8 points per game. Along with these two young talents, Trae Young’s masterful playmaking and career-high assist of 12.2 per game, made the Atlanta side a ticking time bomb.

Not to forget that the Hawks once beat the stacked Boston Celtics without Trae Young. So, the Knicks can expect anything from the Hawks side. Anyway, let’s take a look at the injury report ahead of tonight’s clash and check whether the team has enough resources to restrict the Knicks.

• Bogdan Bogdanovic (Quadriceps) – Questionable
• De’Andre Hunter – Probable
• Cody Zeller (Personal) –  Out
• Trae Young (Achilles) – Probable
• Jalen Johnson (Shoulder) – Questionable
• Seth Lundy (Ankle) – Out

In the last game, the team announced Trae Young as probable for the Achilles injury, but he still made it to the starting lineup. It’s an injury that he has been dealing with since last month. Hopefully, he makes it to the lineup tonight for the crucial NBA Cup game. At the same time, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jalen Johnson missed their last game with the same injury, so mostly, the two players won’t return for tonight’s game as well.

Trae Young & Co: Starting Lineup and Depth

With Jalen Johnson and Trae Young out of action, it’s indeed a tough job for the rest of the squad. Looking at the stacked starting lineup of the Knicks, the Hawks might need a special effort from their starting group. Especially from the rookie forward, Zaccharie Risacher, who has had a quiet season so far. This season, the French man has averaged 11.6 ppg in 24-odd minutes per game. Maybe tonight is the day for him to shine.

However, the Hawks also have an upper hand, heading into the game. The Knicks have listed their big man Karl-Anthony Towns as probable with a knee injury along with Josh Hart, who is Questionable with an ankle injury. With two starters out of the lineup, the Knicks are undoubtedly in a vulnerable state, considering their thin depth. So, we might even see a one-sided game tonight. What do you think? Will the Hawks beat the short-handed Knicks? Let us know in the comments.