ATLANTA - Lou Williams was on the training table Tuesday when his coach walked up to deliver some rather startling news: Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young would not be able to play Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals because of an injury.
Williams would be getting the first playoff start of his long NBA career.
"OK," he replied.
That's it. No big deal.
"It's not like a 'Remember The Titans' thing happens in the locker room, I can promise you that," Williams said with a wry smile. "That was the extent of our conversation, and then we had to get ready for the game."
Boy, was he ready. Williams stepped into Young's enormous shoes and guided the Hawks to a 110-88 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks, drawing even at 2-2 in a best-of-seven series with an NBA Finals berth at stake. Game 5 is at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Milwaukee.
Williams scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting Tuesday, when he also dished out eight assists and had just one turnover in 35 minutes of playing time - the 34-year-old's most extensive outing since he was acquired by the Hawks at the trade deadline in late March. Long one of the league's best players off the bench (he's a three-time sixth man of the year), Williams started for the first time in the 87th postseason game of his career.
"I haven't been able to enjoy the moment," Williams said. "I'm stuck in it. I just want to ride this thing until the wheels fall off."
He never could've imagined being in this position after the Los Angeles Clippers dealt him to Atlanta for Rajon Rondo. Williams was stunned by the trade and briefly considered retirement, even though he grew up in suburban Atlanta, starred at South Gwinnett High School and played for the Hawks from 2012-14. He was comfortable with the Clippers and considered himself a big part of their championship drive.
Now he's two wins away from the title series with his hometown franchise.
"This wasn't a team I was paying attention to," Williams conceded. "With the Clippers, we were on the hunt for a championship run. I was focused solely on that. But once I was able to get around these guys, get around the organization, get a good feel for what's going on around here, I felt like there could be some great potential here."
The 22-year-old Young, who has been a breakout star of the Hawks' improbable postseason run, was injured in a freak accident in Game 3. While turning to run up court, he stepped on a referee's foot along the sideline and twisted his right ankle.
After being diagnosed with a bone bruise, Young hoped to return for Game 4. The Hawks held off until about an hour before game time before ruling out their best player. Williams made sure the impact of Young's absence wasn't reflected in the results.
"Lou is always the same. He's always even-keeled, steady Lou," teammate Kevin Huerter said. "He's kind of a legend. He just has this way about him. He comes in here and drops 21 like he's been playing 40 minutes the whole playoffs."
Williams brought a sense of calm to a young team that easily could've panicked when everyone learned that Young couldn't play.
"He gives us another level of confidence in the locker room," said Bogdan Bogdanovic, who broke out of his series-long long slump with 20 points. "To play the game with him is so easy. Communicating with him is so easy. He's been in the league so long. He's seen everything. He knows how to make the game easier for everyone."
Young's status remains uncertain, and whether he plays is again likely to be a game-time decision, Atlanta interim coach Nate McMillan said Wednesday. In addition, Hawks center Clint Capela is questionable with right eye inflammation after taking an elbow to the face late in Game 4.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful after the two-time league MVP hyperextended his left knee during Tuesday's matchup.
"Giannis is going to do everything he can to be available," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Wednesday. "We're going to put his health and safety first and together make good decisions."
Antetokounmpo has averaged 28.2 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists this postseason.
"You don't just prepare for Giannis," McMillan said. "They have a lot of other guys over there that are productive and can play and they can go to. We'll continue to prepare for the Bucks as opposed to just one individual."