The Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards will both look different when they meet for the final time this season on Saturday.
The Hawks’ new players from the trade deadline — Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Bones Hyland, and Terance Mann — were with the team for the Hawks’ 115-110 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, but they did not play. They traveled with the team and are expected to play against the Wizards.
The Wizards’ new players — Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, Colby Jones, and Alex Len — should be ready to play as well. None of them played in Friday’s 134-124 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. AJ Johnson, another player acquired by the Wizards at the trade deadline, played in the game and contributed two points and four assists in nine minutes.
“Khris is a championship-caliber player whose professionalism will help our organization in multiple ways,” said Wizards general manager Will Dawkins about Middleton.
Washington’s three-game winning streak ended Friday, and they now have a 5-21 record at home, with eight consecutive losses at Capital One Arena.
The Hawks have won two of their last three games after losing eight in a row.
Both teams will play their second game in two nights. Washington is 0-8 in such situations, while Atlanta is 4-6.
Washington leads the season series 2-1, but the Hawks won the most recent game 129-117 in Atlanta on Nov. 15.
Niang is excited to be back playing under Atlanta coach Quin Snyder, with whom he spent four seasons in Utah.
“I’m super excited to get back and get involved with a team that’s coached by him,” Niang said. “I told someone earlier that the way he breathes confidence into his players is second to none. He’s a real problem-solver. He’s real innovative in his ways of coaching, and that’s real beneficial to me.”
Washington Wizards (NBA)With the new players not yet in action on Friday, Mouhamed Gueye played extended minutes and recorded his first career double-double, finishing with a season-high 15 points, career-high 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots.
“It’s just part of the process,” Gueye said. “I’ve been working my tail off the whole time. I pride myself in bringing the energy whenever I’m on the court.”
For Washington, Jordan Poole had a career-high 45 points in the loss. The 25-year-old guard has scored 19 or more points in 16 of his past 22 games.
The Hawks and Wizards both have top 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, although he has missed the last five games due to a sprained left ankle.
Washington may be without Anthony Gill, who sprained his right ankle in the first half against Cleveland and did not return. The Wizards also played Friday without Malcolm Brogdon (injury management) and Justin Champagnie (right rib contusion).
The Hawks expect Clint Capela to be available after missing Friday’s game due to personal reasons. He was on the bench in street clothes.
