On Sunday, the revamped Brooklyn Nets will take on the Atlanta Hawks in an Eastern Conference matchup in Atlanta. Sunday at 3:00 PM EST will be the official start of this game.
Injury Reports Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks
Despite suffering a crushing defeat in Chicago, the Nets are still holding steady at fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Atlanta evened its record at 30-30 on Friday night as the team prepared for an entirely new coaching staff following the dismissal of Nate McMillan earlier this week.
The Hawks are still trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. With Friday’s 136-119 victory over Cleveland, Atlanta moved back to even at.500 in the Eastern Conference standings, where they currently sit in eighth place.
Over the course of 32 minutes, Trae Young scored 34 points (8-18 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 14-15 FT), added three boards, nine dimes, and a steal.
The Hawks’ first game after the All-Star break was led by Young, and the star point guard came up one assist short of a double-double that would have been his sixth in a row.
To put it simply, Young has taken his game to a whole new level as of late, making him one of the best guards in the league from a fantasy perspective and a double-double threat every time he steps on the court. In eight games played in February, he has posted averages of 25.1 points and 12.1 assists.
Key Injuries: F John Collins is out, in concussion protocol.
Reports from Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network indicate that Collins’ status for Sunday’s matchup with the Nets is in doubt due to low-back tightness.
Collins has been cleared from concussion protocol, but his back injury makes his status uncertain. Saddiq Bey would likely get another start if Collins is benched again.
Adjusting to life without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will be a process for the Brooklyn Nets after making some significant moves at the trade deadline.
With just over 20 games left in the season, Brooklyn is trying to work five new players into its rotation.
Key Injuries: Ben Simmons is out for at least the next two games with knee issues.
Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports that Simmons will miss games on Friday in Chicago and Sunday in Atlanta after having platelet-rich plasma injected into his injured left knee.
Simmons’s knee has been bothering him for a while now, and it looks like the ache has worsened since the All-Star break, when he needed the PRP injection to get back on the court.
Despite the Nets’ roster overhaul before the trade deadline (Kevin Durant to Phoenix, Kyrie Irving to Dallas), Simmons’ minutes were decreasing before the break.
Coach Jacque Vaughn may give Cam Thomas and Seth Curry more playing time in Simmons’ absence.
