It’s official: the Atlanta Hawks will be without Trae Young again, and the New York Knicks will miss Josh Hart. On the final injury report for Friday, January 2, 2026, Young has been ruled out with a right quadriceps contusion, and Hart is out with a right ankle sprain. The news takes some star power off the floor and adds a fresh twist to a matchup that already promised intensity.

There are no points on the board yet — this is the lead-up to the game — but there are real lineup questions on both sides. For the Hawks, this is Young’s third straight missed game. For the Knicks, Hart’s absence takes away a trusted two-way forward. The margins will matter even more now.

Final injury report: Trae Young and Josh Hart are Out

The official update is simple and firm. Young is listed as Out (Injury/Illness – Right Quad; Contusion). Hart is listed as Out (Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain). That locks in a different look for both teams as they meet in New York.

One league note summed up Young’s status clearly: “Hawks guard Trae Young (right quad contusion) has been ruled out for a third consecutive game and won’t be available on Friday in New York.” Another report added, “Young (quadriceps) won’t play Friday against the Knicks. Young, who was previously listed as questionable, isn’t quite ready to return.” A third update captured the tone around his timeline: “Young was initially listed as questionable, which suggests he’s considered day-to-day and should probably return soon, barring a setback.”

On Atlanta’s broader injury sheet, N’Faly Dante remains out for the season with a torn ACL. That is a long-term absence and cuts into the Hawks’ depth up front, even if the main headline tonight is the guard spot.

What Trae Young’s absence means for the Hawks

Young is the engine of Atlanta’s offense. Without him, the Hawks must create shots in a simpler way. Expect more touches for wings and forwards, more ball movement, and more set plays to get clean looks. The late-clock magic that Young often provides will need to come from others.

One name to highlight is Jalen Johnson. With Young out, Johnson is expected to take on a larger role. That can mean more drives, more decisions with the ball, and more chances to attack mismatches. Johnson’s energy and size can help push the pace and keep the offense steady.

There is also a rhythm factor. Three straight games without Young means the Hawks have had a bit of time to adjust, but it still changes how they start games and how they close them. They will need to value each possession and keep turnovers down against a Knicks team that likes to make the game physical.

“No Trae again — can Atlanta manufacture offense or will the pace slow to a crawl?”

Josh Hart’s ankle sprain and what it means for the Knicks

Hart is a trusted forward for New York. He brings toughness and glue plays. His absence means the Knicks will shuffle wing minutes and look for other options to spark the lineup. They may lean on different combinations to keep balance on defense and keep the ball moving on offense.

Without Hart, New York loses a player who often guards multiple spots and helps the team get extra chances. That can shift how the Knicks handle matchups in the middle parts of each quarter. It also puts a bit more pressure on their other forwards to set the tone early and finish possessions strong.

“Hart being out hurts the Knicks on the wing — who wins the hustle minutes now?”

Day-to-day tone for Young: caution without panic

The silver lining for Atlanta is the tone around Young’s status. He was initially questionable, which points to a day-to-day track and suggests a return could be soon if there are no setbacks. That is important in early January when teams balance health and results across a long season.

Sitting him for another night can be smart. A right quad contusion can linger if a player takes contact too soon. The Hawks need Young strong for the bigger stretch ahead, not just tonight.

Matchup watch: little things will decide a tight game

With Young out and Hart out, both teams will look different. For Atlanta, the key is clean offense: quick decisions, good spacing, and trust in sets. For New York, the key is steady wing play and finding the right bench mix to cover Hart’s minutes.

Keep an eye on these simple battles:

• First-quarter pace: Do the Hawks settle in without Young, or do the Knicks force a grind?
• Turnovers: Atlanta must protect the ball to keep easy points off the table for New York.
• Wing minutes: How New York balances rotations without Hart could swing stretches of the game.
• Free throws: With stars out, getting to the line and converting can tilt the scoreboard.

There are no scorelines to discuss yet — tip-off is still ahead — but the runway is clear for a close, detail-driven game in New York.

“If Young is truly day-to-day, is this the last absence or a caution sign for January?”

Big picture: January stakes without overreaction

Injury news like this can stir nerves, but the big picture is steady. The Hawks are dealing with a short-term hit to their star guard, and they will spread the job until he’s back. The Knicks lose a valued forward for the night and will try to win the effort stats by committee.

The official reports give us the facts: Young is out for a third straight game, Hart is out tonight, and N’Faly Dante remains out for the year. The rest is about execution. January isn’t the finish line; it’s the time to build habits, keep players healthy, and stack wins where possible.

So, here we go. The headline names are on the shelf, but the chess match is still on. We’ll see which team adapts faster and cleaner when the ball goes up on Friday in New York.