Overview
- Young played 20 minutes in his first game since Oct. 29, recording eight points and 10 assists in a 133-126 loss to the Hornets.
- Jalen Johnson delivered a career-high 43 points with 11 rebounds and nine assists on his 24th birthday, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 28.
- After a brief G League ramp-up and recall, Young returned to the starting lineup on a minutes restriction on the front end of a back-to-back.
- The Hawks went 13-9 without Young as roles expanded and the defense showed progress, raising key reintegration questions for the rotation.
- Reports around the league frame the coming weeks as pivotal for assessing Young’s fit and informing choices tied to his $49 million 2026-27 player option and any trade-deadline considerations.