/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62220057/usa_today_11460255.0.jpg)
UPDATE: Kevin Huerter (personal reasons) is out for Wednesday’s game. Taurean Prince (ankle) is available to play after being removed from the injury report.
Three weeks ago, the 2018-19 NBA season began and, for the Atlanta Hawks, that meant a 19-point opening night loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. On Wednesday evening, Lloyd Pierce’s team will play host to the Knicks in something of a “rematch” and, this time, the venue is State Farm Arena.
Atlanta will be operating on the second night of a back-to-back (with travel), as the team fell to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. On the flip side, the Knicks had Tuesday off, albeit after a double-overtime marathon against the Chicago Bulls on Monday evening.
On both sides, it will be interesting to see who is available due to injury concerns. Though he was listed as “available” to play in the team’s most recent contest, former Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. did not appear as a result of a back injury and, at this juncture, there is nothing definitive on his status. For Atlanta, Taurean Prince missed the game on Tuesday with an ankle injury and his status appears to be up in the air when it comes to Wednesday’s action.
In Prince’s stead, the Hawks turned to Kevin Huerter and DeAndre’ Bembry for increased workloads, with Tyler Dorsey appearing spot duty as the team’s fourth wing. A similar rotation would likely appear if Prince is unable to play but, if the third-year forward is able to play, it will be interesting to see how Pierce deploys his rotation, especially given the way Huerter played on Tuesday.
At this (very) early juncture, the Hawks are actually one-point home underdogs to the Knicks. Some of that projection undoubtedly stems from New York’s rest advantage but, simply put, this is Atlanta’s best chance (at least on paper) for a win for a long time, as the schedule will be more difficult beginning on Friday.
Stay tuned.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7:30 pm ET
Location: State Farm Arena
TV: Fox Sports Southeast
Radio: 92.9 The Game (Atlanta); Hawks Radio Network
Streaming: Fox Sports Go; NBA League Pass (out of market)