The Atlanta Hawks face being without their biggest starter while they are desperately trying to stay above the play-in line.
Trae Young suffered a left-hand injury during Friday’s Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors game. According to the Hawks, Young underwent an MRI exam Saturday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex. There, it was learned he suffered a tear of the radial collateral ligament, also known as the RCL, in the fifth finger of his left hand.
He is scheduled for surgery to repair the injury on Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
He will be out of action for at least four weeks.
The loss of Young, however temporary, couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Hawks, who are hanging onto play-in status in the NBA Eastern Conference at 24-32. Onyeka Okongwu is already out for the season with a left toe sprain, and Mouhamed Gueye remains out with a back stress fracture. The Hawks will be depending heavily on Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter Bogi Bogdanovic, and other front liners for scoring while Young is recuperating.
The Hawks face the Orlando Magic tonight at State Farm Arena.