Leading 112-106 with 5:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Atlanta Hawks looked to be in control on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls.
That is, until Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder made a head-scratching move. He had opted to go without superstar point guard Trae Young on the floor since the 8:24 mark. Even when the Hawks took that six-point lead, the veteran leader kept Young on the bench.
Chicago called a timeout, inserted key players Kevin Huerter and Ayo Dosunmu, and went on a 10-2 run. Young re-entered the game when Chicago took the lead, but Atlanta never led again.
Snyder’s decision swiftly backfired. After already surviving critical mid-fourth-quarter minutes without Young, the decision to keep Young on the bench after the Bulls' timeout is inexplicable.
Trae Young’s playmaking was on display Wednesday night
The 27-year-old turned in one of the most efficient playmaking games of his career, finishing with 21 points, 17 assists, and just one turnover in 34 minutes. Despite struggling from deep (1-for-10 from three), he created quality looks for his teammates.
Kristaps Porzingis, returning from an illness, scored a team-high 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting. Jalen Johnson added 25 points and six rebounds, continuing his strong start to the season. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in double-digit scoring off the bench.
Atlanta’s offense started out red-hot before cooling off at points throughout the night, mostly when Young was off the floor. Though it’s only game four of the regular season, Snyder must find a balance between giving his star player rest and keeping the team’s rhythm. In must-have scenarios like the Hawks faced tonight, Young being on the floor should be a no-brainer. Going forward, I’d expect Snyder to do so.
However, it wasn’t the Hawks’ offense that lost them the game. Chicago caught fire in the second half, knocking down 11 three-pointers in the process. Both teams produced elite offensive output, but the Bulls ultimately proved to be too much.
Desperate for their second win of 2025, Atlanta will continue a four-game road trip in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. Tip-off between the Hawks and Nets is set for 7:30 p.m. at Barclays Center. Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernandez leads a young club that is still searching for their first victory. Atlanta has a tremendous opportunity to get things back on track before traveling to Indiana and Cleveland for more difficult matchups.