The Atlanta Hawks have experienced a streaky start to the season but are currently on an upward trend as they head into a New Year’s Day road matchup with the Denver Nuggets.
Atlanta has won four consecutive games, including a victory over Toronto on Sunday that kicked off a season-long six-game road trip. Wednesday night presents an opportunity for the Hawks to seek revenge against the Nuggets, who defeated them 141-111 on December 8, ending Atlanta’s previous six-game winning streak.
Following a loss to Dallas on November 25, the Hawks held a 7-11 record but have since won 11 of their last 15 games. However, they will try to extend their current winning streak without reserve forward Larry Nance Jr., who suffered a broken right hand against Miami on Saturday and is scheduled for surgery on Thursday. Nance has played in just 15 games this season, averaging 9.5 points, and has been the subject of trade rumors.
Additionally, Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has missed four straight games with a lower-leg contusion and is doubtful for Wednesday’s game.
The Hawks’ recent surge has been driven by Trae Young, who leads the team in scoring with 22 points and assists with 12.1 per game. Jalen Johnson contributes a team-best 10.2 rebounds per game to complement his 19.9 scoring average, while De’Andre Hunter has been valuable off the bench, trailing only Young with 20.6 points per game.
On the other side, Russell Westbrook of the Denver Nuggets is making a strong case for the Sixth Man award. Injuries have pushed him into the starting lineup in 10 of the 31 games this season. To be eligible for the award, a player must come off the bench in more games than they start.
Westbrook is averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds and recently recorded his 201st career triple-double in a win at Utah on Monday. He scored 16 points without missing a shot from the field or the foul line and had no turnovers in the game. Despite occasional struggles with his outside shooting, Westbrook’s energy has been a catalyst for Denver.
Westbrook has started the last three games with Aaron Gordon sidelined due to a right calf strain. However, the Nuggets continue to be led by Nikola Jokic, who recorded his league-leading 13th triple-double of the season on Monday. Jokic is among the NBA leaders in scoring (31 points per game), rebounds (12.9 per game), and assists (9.5 per game) as he makes a strong case for his fourth MVP.
Jamal Murray (19.8 points per game) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.7 points per game) are the second and third leading scorers for Denver.
The Hawks will look to maintain their winning momentum, while the Nuggets aim to continue their strong performance behind Jokic and Westbrook’s contributions. This matchup promises to be a test of resilience and skill for both teams.
