The Atlanta Hawks are finally stepping into the 2026 NBA Cup spotlight tonight, and the setup comes with a little extra juice: a second straight meeting with the Washington Wizards, plus the return of Trae Young to Atlanta.
Young hasn’t played a game in Atlanta since the Hawks traded him to the Wizards last season, and he’s set to get the kind of reception that comes from years of being cheered after Atlanta drafted him in 2018.
The Hawks may still be short-handed, though. They already have Jock Landale, Asa Newell, Mouhamed Gueye, Keshon Gilbert, and Henri Veesaar ruled out, while Jalen Johnson is questionable after missing the last two games with an ankle injury. He’s in danger of sitting out a third straight.
As for the game itself, Atlanta’s path to another win starts with the same formula that worked Wednesday: shot-making. The Wizards have been solid early, but the Hawks controlled most of that game, and their hot perimeter shooting helped them offset Washington’s damage in the paint.
That matters because the Wizards don’t live and die by the three. They’re more comfortable scoring inside, while also giving up plenty of three-point attempts. Atlanta has the kind of shooters to make that a problem, and that’s why another Hawks win feels like the cleanest call.
There’s also a chance for Kingston Flemings to keep building on a strong first impression. In his first career NBA start on Wednesday, he got off to a good start against Washington, and tonight could be his home debut to remember.
He still hasn’t posted a double-double in his young NBA career, but this feels like the night that changes. With Atlanta leading the league in assists, the ball should keep moving, the threes should keep falling, and Flemings should have a chance to reach double figures while putting up his best passing numbers yet.
Then there’s the defensive end, where Dyson Daniels could tilt things again. Atlanta ranks sixth in the league in steals per game, and while Washington has done a good job taking care of the ball, committing just 12 turnovers in the last game against the Hawks on Monday, Daniels is a strong bet to make life uncomfortable. The prediction here is that he helps Atlanta force at least 20 turnovers and turn them into extra possessions.
In Other News...
Hawks Frontcourt Faces Another Test With One Key Status Still Unclear
Jalen Johnsons status remains one of the bigger questions hanging over Atlantas frontcourt as the Hawks get ready to face the Wizards. Johnson is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain and has already missed the last two games, leaving Quin Snyder to keep sorting through a rotation that is already thin with several other Hawks expected to sit because of injuries.
Asa Newell is also on the report, along with Jock Landale, Keshon Gilbert, Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar, which only adds to the challenge of piecing together enough size and depth for the matchup. Snyder has pointed to Zuby Ejiofors recent play as a bright spot, praising the way he fits into Atlantas defensive identity, but the bigger issue for the Hawks is how much they can ask of that front line if Johnson is not available again. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Rookie Has A Rare Chance To Challenge A Franchise Icon
Kingston Flemings is already getting a kind of rookie assignment most first-year players never see. The recent top-ten pick stepped into his first career start against Washington and handled the moment well enough to help Atlanta come away with a victory, a strong early sign that the Hawks are willing to put real responsibility on his shoulders right away.
The next meeting with the Wizards brings an even more unusual wrinkle, because Flemings is expected to start again while sharing the floor with Trae Young, one of the franchises defining names. For a rookie still settling into the league, it is a rare chance to measure himself in a game that carries both immediate stakes and a little extra symbolism for a Hawks team that has already shown it trusts him in a bigger role than most first-year players get. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Frontcourt Just Took Another Hit Fans Wont Like
The Hawks frontcourt depth took another hit with Asa Newell sidelined after suffering a left great toe hyperextension. Atlanta said he will be reevaluated in about two weeks, though the recovery could stretch beyond that point, adding another layer of uncertainty to a roster already dealing with multiple injuries.
Keshon Gilbert also remains out after undergoing a non-surgical procedure for left knee inflammation, and he is due to be reevaluated in roughly six weeks. With several Hawks still on the shelf, the injury list is starting to shape the teams day-to-day options in a way that could force more lineup shuffling than anyone in Atlanta would like. [Read more 🡒]