Trae Young Returns From Sprained MCL for Hawks vs Hornets

Merlin sees Trae Young returning from a sprained MCL for Thursday’s game against the Hornets, a welcome restoration of Atlanta’s chief playmaker. The Hawks went 13-9 without him, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson keeping the team competitive, so Atlanta is not collapsing into chaos on his return. Young’s presence will immediately change shot distribution and offensive flow. Merlin notes Atlanta sits 15-12 and a game off third in a crowded East. Be ready for a short window of adjustment as roles shift, but expect more assists and more field goal attempts from Trae. The Hawks showed they can win without him, yet Young raises their ceiling and makes them a more dangerous team when chemistry clicks.