This stat highlights Trae Young’s continued playoff struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Atlanta Hawks need more from their star Trae Young to have a chance to upset the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.
Young was limited to a modest 16 points in Game 1 Saturday at TD Garden. The 24-year-old guard shot just 5-for-18 from the floor and made just one 3-pointer in five attempts. Shutting him down was key to Boston’s 112-99 victory.
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Young is looking to break out of a playoff slump that began in last year’s first-round series against the Miami Heat. In his last seven postseason games, he is 8-for-49 from beyond the arc. That’s the most attempts by the least committed in a seven-game stretch in playoff history, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
However, he was far from the only Hawks player to struggle offensively on Saturday. Atlanta shot 5-for-29 from deep as a team and 38.8 percent from the floor. The C’s led by as many as 32 points before the Hawks cut the deficit to 12 in the fourth quarter.
Celtics star Jaylen Brown expects more from Young and the Hawks in Game 2.
“We expect to get their best shot next game. Can’t take a team for granted,” said Brown after the victory in Boston. “I hope for them that the next game will be more prepared, so we have to prepare as well.”
Game 2 is set for 7 pm ET Tuesday at TD Garden. You can catch the action right here on NBC Sports Boston, starting at Celtics Pregame Live at 6 pm