The Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards will both showcase revamped lineups when they meet for the final time this season on Saturday.
Hawks’ Situation:
Atlanta recently bolstered its roster with new acquisitions at the trade deadline, bringing in Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Bones Hyland, and Terance Mann. While these players were present for the Hawks’ 115-110 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, they did not suit up. They are, however, expected to play against the Wizards.
The Hawks have won two of their last three games after enduring an eight-game losing streak. With the new additions, Atlanta hopes to continue this upward trend. Niang expressed his excitement about reuniting with Hawks coach Quin Snyder, with whom he spent four seasons in Utah.
In their recent game, Mouhamed Gueye stepped up in the absence of the new players, achieving his first career double-double with a season-high 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots.
Wizards’ Situation:
The Wizards were also active at the trade deadline, acquiring Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, Colby Jones, and Alex Len. None of them played in Washington’s 134-124 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, but they are expected to be available for Saturday’s game. AJ Johnson, another recent addition, played on Friday and contributed two points and four assists in nine minutes.
Washington saw its three-game winning streak snapped with the loss to Cleveland and now holds a 5-21 home record, having lost its last eight games at Capital One Arena. The Wizards are 0-8 in the second game of back-to-back situations, while the Hawks are 4-6.
The Wizards have taken a 2-1 lead in the season series against the Hawks, but Atlanta won their most recent encounter 129-117 on November 15.
Key Players:
- Hawks: Mouhamed Gueye, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, Clint Capela (expected to return)
- Wizards: Jordan Poole (career-high 45 points on Friday), Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, Colby Jones, Alex Len, Anthony Gill (game-time decision), Malcolm Brogdon (injury management), Justin Champagnie (right rib contusion)
Draft Picks Spotlight:
Both teams feature the top two picks from the 2024 NBA draft: Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher (No. 1) and Washington’s Alex Sarr (No. 2). Risacher averages 11.2 points and 3.4 rebounds, while Sarr averages 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds but has missed the past five games with a sprained left ankle.
