They say history repeats itself, it very well may in Atlanta. After routing the Cavaliers 131-107 on Thursday night, the Hawks have secured their position in the play-in and could be gearing up for a run similar to what we saw from the squad last year.
Currently on a four game winning streak and now three games over the .500 mark for the first time this year, its no stretch to say the Hawks are playing their best ball when it counts the most.
Trae Young's groin injury gave Hawks' fans a brief scare at the end of the second quarter, but it was clear all was well when he came out and played the entire third quarter and scored 15 points. Young would finish the night with 30 points, which put him over 2,000 points on the season.
That makes Trae Young only the fifth player in Hawks franchise history to reach the feat, and the first one to do it since Dominique Wilkins in 1993.
A big part of the Hawks winning streak has been the play of Kevin Huerter, who is averaging over 20 ppg during the stretch. Couple that with the energy and defensive effort from players like Onyeka Okongwu and the Hawks are looking more and more formidable with each passing game.
It should be noted that two of the four teams played during the streak have losing records and the Warriors played without Steph Curry when they faced off against the Hawks.
The next test, and quite honestly, the most important game of the season for the Hawks comes on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets. The Hawks, Nets, and Hornets currently hold a three-way tie in the standings.
With a win over the Nets, Atlanta would have sole ownership of the eighth seed and secure at least one home game during the play-in.