Atlanta @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 23, 2019 ) Phoenix 112, Atlanta 120

Trae Young has been a scoring machine in the early part of the season and he aims to fill up the nets some more when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Young scored 15 of his season-high 42 points in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 125-121 road win over the Denver Nuggets to help the Hawks end a three-game slide.

Young made a season-best eight 3-pointers and also recorded 11 assists as he reached the 30-point mark for the third straight game and fifth time this season. "It felt better because we won," Young said after increasing his scoring average to 28 per game. "I'm glad I was able to knock some shots down and help us win." The much-improved Suns also have a potent backcourt scorer in Devin Booker, who has scored 20 or more points in eight straight games and is averaging 25.3. Booker registered 21 points and nine assists in Tuesday's 123-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers as Phoenix fell to 2-2 on a six-game homestand.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Arizona

ABOUT THE HAWKS (4-6): Forward Jabari Parker is putting together better performances in the wake of John Collins' 25-game suspension for violating the NBA's league's anti-drug program. Parker's role increased due to the discipline to Collins and he had 20 points and nine rebounds against Denver and is averaging 21.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in five games since joining the starting lineup. Center Alex Len scored a season-best 17 points against the Nuggets after failing to record more than six points over the first nine games.

ABOUT THE SUNS (6-4): Phoenix wasn't able to overcome the Lakers down the stretch but played feisty basketball while putting forth a battle with top-notch effort. "That hasn’t been a problem for us all season," Booker told reporters. "We are going to try to keep that a thing for us. We are going to come out here and play hard every night. We have done that thus far through the season." Small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. had scored in double digits in each game this season before having just one point and missing all five shots - four from 3-point range - in 19 minutes against the Lakers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Hawks won the past three meetings, including a 2-0 mark last season.

2. Atlanta SG Kevin Huerter (shoulder) will sit out after being hurt against the Nuggets.

3. Phoenix PG Ricky Rubio had 21 points and 10 assists against the Lakers for his third 20-10 outing in a four-game stretch.

PREDICTION: Suns 125, Hawks 119