In the final seconds, with the Hawks leading the Heat by four, Trae Young wasn’t necessarily nervous as he went to the line, shooting two.
It was only after he sank the first free throw, awarding him a career-high 50 points as the Hawks stunned the likely playoff-bound Miami on Thursday night, that Young tensed a bit. He ended up missing the second shot, putting him at 18-for-19 from the line in the Hawks’ 129-124 win, just shy of perfect, but still tying his career-high of 18 free throws made.
His production shooting free throws has essentially doubled from his rookie season — some of it is strategy and skill, some of it, even Young admits, is getting more calls now that he’s not a rookie anymore.