Trae Young's historic night lifts Hawks over Hornets

Beyond his scoring and playmaking, Young contributed seven rebounds and came close to a triple-double, though he also committed five turnovers. 

His perimeter shooting has been inconsistent lately, making just 17.9 percent of his three-pointers over the past four games. Yet, his overall production remains elite, averaging 30.3 points and 12.3 assists in that span while shooting a remarkable 98 percent from the free-throw line. 

His 49 total assists in these four games are tied for the third most in the NBA, matching Nikola Jokic and trailing only Luka Doncic and James Harden (51 each).

Atlanta’s supporting cast stepped up in the victory. Caris LeVert contributed 15 points, while Georges Niang added 12 and Terance Mann chipped in 10. The Hawks bench played a pivotal role, outscoring Charlotte’s reserves 57-18, giving Atlanta a crucial advantage.

The Hornets, who had won two straight following a nine-game losing streak, struggled to keep pace. Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 31 points and 11 rebounds, while LaMelo Ball tallied 25 points and nine assists. However, their efforts weren’t enough, as the Hornets dropped to 16-49, remaining near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

Meanwhile, the Hawks are surging at the right time. With four straight wins, they have strengthened their playoff push, improving to 32-34. They currently sit seventh in the East, now within five games of the sixth-place Detroit Pistons, as they look to secure a direct postseason spot.