Trae Young to make his return against Bulls

Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young has been cleared from Covid protocols and will return vs. the Chicago Bulls tonight, sources tell ESPN.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
Would you consider this Trae Young war crime against Troy Brown Jr. a show of athleticism or craft? pic.twitter.com/OPSDBp6q1w – 10:58 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
10 observations: Bulls post one of best offensive performances of season behind terrific production and efficiency from DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic
Also notes on defending Trae Young, Coby White’s second-half bounceback, more:
nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/… – 10:54 PM Chris Vivlamore @CVivlamoreAJC
I asked Trae Young about his symptoms. Said he was asymptomatic nearly the entire nine days. Felt a little tired the first day. – 10:13 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Trae: “I was asymptomatic the whole time. Maybe the first day I was sleepy.” – 10:11 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Trae on his return: “I’ve been up in the house and chilling and it feels great to be playing basketball again.” – 10:08 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Chris Fleming cited throwing Ayo Dosunmu and Javonte Green — and in turn, more length and versatility — at Trae Young as a turning point in game
Young had 12 pts, 5 ast in first quarter, but shot 3-15 from field in quarters two through four. Finished with 29 and 9, (12-12 FT) – 10:06 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Acting head coach Chris Fleming cited Ayo Dosunmu’s defense on Trae Young in his postgame comments. – 10:03 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Nate on Trae: “He said he’d been running the entire time (in protocol.)”
Added that he thought Trae had his wind and his conditioning was good. – 10:00 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Javonte Green draws defensive assignment on Trae Young to start 2nd half, a look I thought Bulls would use to begin the game. – 8:47 PM Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
Javonte Green starts the second half guarding Trae Young with full-court pressure. – 8:47 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Halftime: Bulls 69, Hawks 63
Zach LaVine has 23 points (17 in the second quarter), DeMar DeRozan has 21 and each have 5 assists to lead Bulls’ offense
And at other end, Ayo Dosunmu’s second-quarter defense on Trae Young was seismic improvement over Coby White in first – 8:32 PM Michael Gallagher @MikeSGallagher
Ayo with a great block on Trae. Should just give him all of Coby’s mins in this matchup. pic.twitter.com/Xvo32c7OrH – 8:17 PM Joe Cowley @JCowleyHoops
Trae Young could have thrown up the prayer, but took the coward way out to keep that shooting percentage up. Only player this season I’ve heard admit he launches every prayer and doesn’t care about %? Lonzo Ball! – 8:05 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Bulls withstand torrid start from Trae Young, and three 3s from Cam Reddish, to trail just 36-31 after first quarter. Thank DeMar DeRozan for that — he leads way with 15 points on 5-6 shooting, including two 3s – 8:04 PM Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Bulls miss Lonzo and Caruso badly tonight. Trae Young, who’s been mostly guarded by Coby White, is up to 10 points and 4 assists in 9 minutes. Has already drawn two fouls on White too – 7:56 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Someone tell Chaundee Brown that when he gets a rebound and Trae comes to get the ball, you give it to him. – 7:55 PM Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
Fresh legs Trae Young is going to be a problem tonight for #Bulls – 7:53 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
The absences of Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso are really standing out along the defensive perimeter early tonight. Trae Young looks lively fresh out of COVID-19 protocol and he’s picking apart this Bulls defense. – 7:52 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
I think Trae Young is OK. – 7:52 PM Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
Trae Young steps back in and immediately shows his worth. He’s scored or assisted on 12 of the Hawks’ first 14 points in the first 4 1/2 minutes. Tough! – 7:50 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Wonder if someone else will be guarding Trae Young after this timeout. – 7:49 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Trae gets handchecked without a whistle too much this season, but it’s good to see him taking advantage and doing the same to stay in front of his man on the other end. – 7:46 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Hawks are starting
Cam Reddish
Chaundee Brown
Clint Capela
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Trae Young – 7:13 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Hawks starters vs. Bulls
Trae Young
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Cam Reddish
Chaundee Brown
Clint Capela – 7:12 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Not a gambler at all but over/under on Trae Young FGAs? – 6:32 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Trae Young is available. – 6:08 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Trae Young is the only Hawk to clear protocols tonight. Still, Hawks get a much-needed boost for a team that’s been hit hard by covid. – 6:04 PM KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Acting head coach Chris Fleming on Trae Young playing vs. Bulls: “You want to play against the best. That’s how you get better.” – 6:03 PM Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Chris Fleming on Trae Young being cleared to face the Bulls tonight: “You want to play against the best players and I think that’s how we get better. … I’m happy to hear he’s on the floor tonight.” – 6:01 PM Chris Vivlamore @CVivlamoreAJC
Can confirm report from @Adrian Wojnarowski : Trae Young has cleared protocol and will play tonight. – 5:56 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Trae Young has received a second negative test and is cleared to return for tonight’s game, @The Athletic has learned. – 5:55 PM Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young has been cleared from Covid protocols and will return vs. the Chicago Bulls tonight, sources tell ESPN. – 5:51 PM Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Trae Young and the Hawks soar at #⃣9⃣ on our Top 10 Stories of the Year!
Hear @Frank Isola & @Mitch Lawrence recap the rest of the biggest headlines from 2021: https://t.co/Kfz72SP5GU pic.twitter.com/KbawpibDQr – 5:06 PM Trae Young @TheTraeYoung
– 4:45 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Trae Young has received a negative test result, @The Athletic has learned. He needs two negative tests, but it suggests there’s a chance of him being cleared before tonight’s game against the Bulls. – 1:36 PM Trae Young @TheTraeYoung
👀 maybe COVID heard me.. – 12:22 PM Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
Hawks NOT available:
John Collins, Sharife Cooper, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, Wes Iwundu, Jalen Johnson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Onyeka Okongwu, Lou Williams, Delon Wright, Trae Young (protocols)
Solomon Hill (hamstring)
De’Andre Hunter (wrist) theathletic.com/realtime/G4hta… – 10:58 AM Trae Young @TheTraeYoung
Another Day, Another Opportunity💯 – 10:33 AM StatMuse @statmuse
Desmond Bane this season:
— More PTS than Tyler Herro
— More PPG than Seth Curry
— More 3PM than Damian Lillard
— More 3PG than Trae Young
— Better FG% than Jaylen Brown
— Better 3P% than Devin Booker
— Better FT% than Steph Curry pic.twitter.com/0znTK4yr66 – 8:49 PM

More on this storyline

Anthony Slater: Andrew Wiggins is cleared from health and safety protocols and not listed on the Warriors’ injury report tomorrow against the Nuggets. Jordan Poole remains out. Wiggins quarantined in the Bay Area. -via Twitter @anthonyVslater / December 27, 2021 Andrew Greif: Ty Lue said Marcus Morris Sr. will have a minutes restriction in his return from covid protocols vs. Brooklyn. -via Twitter @AndrewGreif / December 27, 2021 Callie Caplan: Jason Kidd said 6 Mavs, including Luka, are still in COVID-19 protocol. But Reggie Bullock “is getting close to clearance” and plans to join team in Sacramento this week. Bullock was the first Mavs player to test positive in this outbreak, Dec. 18. -via Twitter @CallieCaplan / December 27, 2021