Hawks at Wizards
The Washington Wizards sit 4 1/2 games out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot entering Friday’s home matchup with the Atlanta Hawks and need to turn things around after losing six of their past eight games. The Wizards ended a western road trip at 1-3 following Wednesday’s 125-104 defeat at Portland, and a defense allowing an NBA-worst 120.2 points per game surrendered 125-plus points five times in the past seven games.
“I thought we played hard,” Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters postgame. “We couldn’t get any shots to fall. We put them on the free-throw line too many times.” Guard Bradley Beal scored 29 points – his franchise-record 20th consecutive game with at least 25 points – in the loss and entered Thursday second in the NBA in scoring at 30.4 points. Atlanta has played better since a 7-27 start, going 12-17 since New Year’s Day, but its bid for the first three-game winning streak of the season ended with an ugly 127-88 home loss to Memphis on Monday. “I don’t know what to teach,” Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce told the media when asked if there were any teachable moments from Monday’s defeat. “You can’t teach effort.”
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS South, NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE HAWKS (19-44): Guard Trae Young entered Thursday ranked third in the league in scoring (29.6 points) and second in assists (9.3), but is shooting 19.5 percent from 3-point range across his past five games. Forward John Collins averages 21.1 points and 10.1 rebounds with double-doubles in 10 of his previous 16 contests, but finished with 12 points and three rebounds Monday. The Hawks rank one spot ahead of Washington in points allowed per game at 119.2.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (22-39): Beal leads the NBA in scoring since the All-Star break at 38 points and has scored 40-plus points 10 times this season. Forward David Bertans is shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range and made four or more 3-pointers in five of his past six games. Guard Jerome Robinson, acquired via trade from the Clippers in early February, earned the start Wednesday after scoring 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting in Tuesday’s loss at Sacramento.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Atlanta G Cam Reddish (back) did not play Monday after warming up, but the Hawks are hopeful he can return Friday.
2. Wizards C Moritz Wagner started Wednesday for the first time since Dec. 10 and responded with a career-best seven offensive rebounds.
3. The two teams split their first two meetings this season, with the Hawks winning 152-133 at home on Jan. 26 as Young scored 45 points for Atlanta and Beal led Washington with 40 points.