The Atlanta Hawks have had an up-and-down start to the season, but they are currently on a positive run as they prepare for a New Year’s Day game against the Denver Nuggets.
Atlanta has won four straight games, including a 126-115 victory over Toronto on Sunday to begin a six-game road trip. On Wednesday, they will get another shot at the Nuggets, who beat the Hawks 141-111 on Dec. 8, ending Atlanta’s six-game winning streak.
After a rough start to the season with a 7-11 record, the Hawks have bounced back with 11 wins in their last 15 games. They will look to extend their streak despite being without reserve forward Larry Nance Jr., who broke his right hand in a game against Miami on Saturday and will have surgery on Thursday.
Nance has played in 15 games this season, averaging 9.5 points, and has been part of trade rumors. Guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has missed four straight games with a lower-leg contusion and is doubtful for Wednesday’s game.
The Hawks’ recent success has been driven by Trae Young, who leads the team with 22 points and 12.1 assists per game. Jalen Johnson is also contributing with 19.9 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds per game. De’Andre Hunter, coming off the bench, has been a key contributor with 20.6 points per game.
Young spoke highly of Hunter, saying, “We need big moments from certain guys, and Dre has been doing great for us. That’s Sixth Man of the Year right there too. So, we got a couple of guys that can win some awards if we keep winning.”
On the other side, Denver has been led by Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. Injuries have forced him into the starting lineup in 10 of the Nuggets’ 31 games.
Westbrook had a standout performance in Monday’s win against Utah, scoring 16 points on a perfect shooting night (7-of-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from the free-throw line), and he also recorded his 201st career triple-double.
Coach Michael Malone praised Westbrook, saying, “He came here for one reason, that’s to help us win a championship. And he hates to lose. And that’s what I also love about him, is that he’s built the right way. I’ll go to war with Russell Westbrook any day.”
While Westbrook has stepped up, the Nuggets are led by the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic. Jokic recorded his league-leading 13th triple-double of the season on Monday and entered Tuesday ranked second in the NBA in scoring (31 points per game), third in rebounds (12.9 per game), and third in assists (9.5 per game). Jokic is once again making a strong case for his fourth MVP award. Jamal Murray (19.8 points per game) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.7) are also key scorers for the Nuggets.
