The Hawks are making another adjustment tonight, and this one comes with a notable first. With Jalen Johnson sidelined again because of an ankle injury, Atlanta will be without him for a second straight game and he won’t get the chance to face former teammate Trae Young in Washington.
Quin Snyder is keeping Lu Dort in the starting group after he filled in on Monday against the Pacers, but the bigger move is at guard. Rookie Kingston Flemings is set to start in place of CJ McCollum, giving Flemings his first NBA start and ending McCollum’s run as a starter for Atlanta, which stretched back to last season.
Dort’s role is straightforward enough: bring defense on the perimeter and help steady the Hawks while Johnson is out. He’s not replacing Johnson’s production, but he does come in after his best shooting night of the season. Dort finished with 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting from three and posted a team-best plus-11 while on the floor.
The challenge tonight is bigger than just guarding the wing. Atlanta needs Dort to do enough on the perimeter to keep the Wizards from taking over inside, especially with Anthony Davis playing at a high level and looking to dominate the Hawks in the paint. That means Dort has to handle his assignments, battle on the boards, and help keep Washington from controlling the interior.
Atlanta’s bench also gets another chance after a rough night Monday, when Johnson and Jock Landale were both out. Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor are expected to handle the backup power forward and center minutes again, and Newell in particular needs a better showing after going scoreless in 17 minutes and finishing at minus-7.
Kingston Flemings is back from his suspension and will be in the mix tonight, along with Aaron Wiggins. Wiggins had a quiet shooting night against Indiana, but he’s been one of Atlanta’s most reliable players this season, and the Hawks will be counting on a bounce-back rather than a repeat.
There’s also a question around Corey Kispert. With Johnson unavailable, he could see more time against his former team after getting his first real run on Monday. He knocked down four threes, but his minus-9 and shaky defense undercut the scoring.
Atlanta is chasing its second straight win and trying to move above .500.
In Other News...
Hawks Rebounding Woes Make A Flawed Trade Target Worth A Look
Atlantas early-season issues around the glass have made frontcourt help a real talking point, and it is not hard to see why. The Hawks have had trouble protecting the rim and finishing possessions, which naturally pushes attention toward any big man who can clean up misses and steady the interior.
One name that fits the discussion is Domantas Sabonis, even if he is not a perfect answer on the defensive end. Sacramento is in a different place than Atlanta, and the Kings could eventually be forced to weigh tough decisions if the situation shifts further. For the Hawks, the appeal is obvious enough: they have expiring contracts that could help make a deal work, even if nothing official is happening yet. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Get An Early Chance To Silence The Trae Young Debate
The Hawks get an early look at life after Trae Young when they meet Washington, a matchup that already carries a little extra weight because of the trade that sent Young to the Wizards. Atlanta has reason to feel good about the roster it has built around the deal, with CJ McCollum among the pieces helping reshape the backcourt and give the team a different kind of balance as the season gets going.
Young has fit quickly in Washington as a playmaker, and the Wizards are showing enough early competitiveness to make this more than just a reunion game. Both teams enter the season with playoff ambitions in the Eastern Conference, which gives this meeting a sharper edge than a typical early-season crossover and makes Atlanta's first chance to answer the debate around the move feel especially important. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Face A Familiar Problem In Road Trip Finale At Washington
The Hawks head into the finale of their three-game road trip in Washington still trying to solve a problem that has followed them away from home: what happens when opponents get comfortable attacking the paint. Atlanta has already spent enough time this season dealing with interior breakdowns, and the Wizards bring a style that can test that weakness again, with key players on both sides expected to shape the night.
Dyson Daniels is one of the names to watch as Atlanta looks for steadier production from its perimeter pieces, while the Hawks will also need cleaner work around the rim if they want to leave Washington with a better feeling than they arrived with. The matchup has the feel of one where shooting and shot selection could decide the tone early, and for Atlanta, the bigger question is whether the defensive issues that have lingered on the road show up again when the game gets into the half-court. [Read more 🡒]