Atlanta Hawks News

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On Monday, the Atlanta Hawks exercised the fourth-year (2021-22) contract options on Kevin Huerter and Trae Young, along with the third-year (2021-22) options on De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish.

Entering his third season with the Hawks, Huerter last season averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.4 minutes (.413 FG%,  .380 3FG%, .828 FT%) in 56 contests (48 starts). He finished second on the team with 127 3FGM, including two games with a career-high-tying six triples. He scored in double-figures 35 times, including six games with 20-or-more points.

Also entering his third year and an Eastern Conference All-Star starter last season, Young put up 29.6 points, 9.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 35.3 minutes (.437 FG%, .361 3FG%, .860 FT%) in 60 starts, ranking second in the NBA in assists, fourth in scoring, 10th in minutes and 26th in free-throw percentage. Young led the Eastern Conference in assists for the second straight season and hit double digits in scoring 57 times, including 49 contests with at least 20 points.

Reddish averaged 10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 26.7 minutes as a rookie last season. Among qualifying first-year players, he ranked second in steals per game, ninth in minutes per game, three-point percentage and blocks per game, 11th in points and rebounds per game. He placed second among rookies in steals (62) and had at least eight games with three steals, the second-highest total among rookies.

Fast forward to Wednesday Night:  The Hawks opened the much anticipated 2020-21 NBA season in Chicago with a matchup against the Bulls, marking the first regular season game that the Hawks have played since Mar. 11.

In the beginning Atlanta displayed a strong offensive performance with the Bulls trailing by as many as 40 points in the third quarter. In the end the Bulls poor defensive efforts resulted in the Hawks 124-104 blowout victory in their season opener.

The Hawks’ 83 points in the first half marked the second-most points allowed in the first half in Bulls’ franchise history and only the fourth time in NBA history a team broke 80 points in the first two quarters of its season.

Young led the team in  scoring 37 points in only 26 minutes of action.

Atlanta also had 6 players score in double-digits.

Coming back from a two day Christmas break : The Hawks traveled to Memphis to take on the Grizzles. After an intense back and forth battle, Atlanta outlasted the Grizzlies and picked up their second win of the season.

Trae Young led the team in scoring 36 points, 9 assists. Kevin Huerter added 21 points. De’Andre Hunter collected a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Nathan Knight finished with 14 points while John Collins rounded off the scoring efforts with a double-double 13 points, 10 rebounds.

Up Next: Atlanta is now 2-0 are heading home to face the Detroit Pistons for the team’s home opener on Monday December 28.

Stay tuned for further updates and coverage of the Atlanta Hawks 2020-21 season.

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