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| Mark Brown / Getty Images |
Young, 21, scored a career-high 50 points becoming the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to reach 50. His previous career-high was 48 points against Oklahoma State in January 2018.
A 50 🍔 from @TheTraeYoung and he gives @QuavoStuntin his jersey afterwards✊ pic.twitter.com/wZktagev3F— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 21, 2020
Young shot well-above his season average of 37.4% from long-range, going 8-of-15 or 53.3% against the Heat. He was nearly perfect from the free-throw line going 18-of-19.
Asked if starting in All-Star game strengthened his play, “I've always had confidence in myself, ” Young replied, via USA Today.
Young’s performance against Miami moved him into second in scoring (30.1 pts) and assist (9.2 ast) in the league. And in the process, he surpassed Shaquille O'Neal for most 40-pt games (11) in player's first two seasons since 1976 league merger.
His one-man wrecking crew mentality this season hasn’t impressed one Skip Bayless, though.
.@RealSkipBayless on Trae Young:— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 21, 2020
"I watched every dribble that this kid took at the University of Oklahoma and I said: 'He's gonna be a blast to watch, but I don't think he can be the driving force of a playoff-caliber contending team.' And so far I've been right." pic.twitter.com/ou1Y6kTlay
Atlanta Hawks (16-41) host Dallas Mavericks (33-22) Saturday.
