The left eye of Atlanta Hawks player Trae Young was scratched during Wednesday’s 112-99 victory over the Knicks. Trae Young claimed the injury and damage shouldn’t keep him out for long.
In Atlanta’s victory, Young finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists. “I believe I will be able to play through it completely,” Young said. Our next game is on Saturday, so hopefully, we will have a few days to improve. I’ll have to wear and put on goggles or glasses for some games, but it’ll be okay. It’s more about letting the swelling go down.
Young rushed to contest a Julius Randle drive and seemed to get slapped in the face by Randle’s hand after Young converted a basket to give the Atlanta Hawks a 66-65 lead early in the 3rd quarter, finishing a 38-14 run to remove a 23-point lead the Knicks had established halfway through the second.
Young lay on the court a while before leaving with a towel covering his face and entering the locker room.
When Atlanta’s backup guard Aaron Holiday stopped Obi Toppin from converting a fastbreak layup attempt in front of the bench in the early stages of the 4th quarter, he returned to the bench.
With 7 minutes and 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Young checked back into the game wearing protective eyewear and continued to play for the remainder of the game, albeit he didn’t attempt a shot after doing so.
Young, who wore sunglasses to his postgame news conference, stated, “I can’t see out of one eye very well, but I can see a little bit.” “I’m in good health and feel fine.”
Young acknowledged that his eye made it difficult for him to shoot the ball, but he insisted that he still wanted to be there for his teammates, even if it put him in danger.
I enjoy playing, Young remarked. “I know I’m in a blessed situation and being able to live out my dream and play basketball. Anytime I’m able to do that, I’m going to go out and try my best and play. Unless I actually can’t play, I’m not going to let my teammates down and sit out because I know I can be a presence out on the floor, even if it’s just standing and getting everyone involved; I know with my company out there I can create more space for my teammates.
Young received plenty of assistance from Dejounte Murray, the new star in Atlanta’s backcourt, who scored 36 points, had nine assists, and grabbed six rebounds in 38 minutes. Murray’s performance helped Atlanta overturn a 23-point second-quarter deficit with a run that, at one point, was 79-39 in Atlanta’s favor. The Hawks led by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter.
After a 3-1 start to the season, New York has already dropped three straight games to teams capable of making the playoffs — Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Atlanta.