Injury Report: Hawks vs Pelicans
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The Hawks have been an injured team in the past couple of weeks and they are still going to have plenty of injuries heading into tomorrow's game vs the Pelicans.
The Hawks are going to be without Trae Young (left fifth finger torn ligament), Onyeka Okongwu (left big toe sprain/sesamoiditis), Jalen Johnson (right ankle sprain), and Kobe Bufkin (left big toe sprain). Dejounte Murray (left calf contusion) is listed as probable.
Keep an eye on the injury report tomorrow for an update on Murray's status. This will be the second straight missed game for Johnson after injuring his ankle in the win over Cleveland on Wednesday.
Murray had one of his best games as a Hawk and one of the best games of his career. Murray finished with 41 points, seven rebounds, and six assists on 17-25 shooting and was the only source of consistent offense for the Hawks all game.
After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder talked about Murray's game, how he was able to adjust what Memphis was throwing at him defensively and one of his biggest threes of the night:
"Yeah, he... you know was hot early and when you're that hot early being able to kind of have balance in your game, which he found a way to do. The three on the top of the floor late, I thought was a dagger, and he's able to create a shot late in the clock, ate in the game, and that's a big thing for us. And then he made some plays when they started really helping on him. He found his teammates late in the game, and that's a big thing for us. And then he made some plays when they started really helping on him. He found his teammates.
We were talking throughout the game about the way, a lot of times, how to attack them or things that he can emphasize in the huddle before I come in the huddle. So, yeah, that's a big thing for us. He didn't need to reassure me, but he was. He was managing the game all the way around and getting the right guys. They started to trap him. We played pick and roll with the small. He got some switches he wanted. Just a cerebral game as well as obviously a big game statistically. His buckets were big buckets."
Murray has been great for the Hawks since Trae Young went down with his injury and the offense has needed every bit of it. Young is one of the best offensive playmakers and creators in the NBA and Atlanta has missed that level of playmaking with him gone. Atlanta does not need Murray to score 41 every night, but he has to be the alpha on offense and get everyone in the right position, as well as himself.
