The Atlanta Hawks secured their first post-break victory on Saturday night, outlasting the Phoenix Suns in an intriguing game. Following a day off for travel on Sunday, Trae Young, John Collins and company will return to action on Monday evening with a step up in competition, as the Hawks take on the Houston Rockets.
Atlanta and Houston have not faced off yet this season and, in some ways, there is baked-in uncertainty as a result. However, injuries make things even more shaky in this spot, with both teams looking down the barrel of potential absences.
For the Rockets, James Harden (cervical strain) and Iman Shumpert (sore right knee) are listed as questionable and, quite obviously, it would be significant if one of the league’s best players was unable to play.