Wizards at Hawks
THE STORY: The lowly Washington Wizards decided to revamp the roster prior to Thursday’s trading deadline. Washington acquired center Nene from the Denver Nuggets and forward Brian Cook from the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team deal in which the Wizards sent guard Nick Young to the Los Angeles Clippers and center JaVale McGee and forward Ronny Turiaf to the Denver Nuggets. The Hawks have lost four of five heading into Friday's game against visiting Washington but still have the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CS Washington (Wizards), SportSouth (Hawks)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (10-32): Roger Mason is one of the players who got increased playing time after Thursday’s trade and was up to the task by scoring 14 of his season-high 19 points in the final quarter of Washington’s 99-89 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Mason hit 7 of 9 shots and made four 3-point baskets while playing 19 minutes. He was averaging just over nine minutes. “It is a tough day always around this time of year,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. “We lost three players that were teammates of ours. Bottom line, somebody is going to get an opportunity.”
ABOUT THE HAWKS (24-19): Center Zaza Pachulia has five double-doubles in the last nine games in his top stretch of play all season. Pachulia is averaging 10.6 rebounds over the last 10 games to raise his season average to 7.2, the second highest figure of his nine-year NBA career. Pachulia had 12 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Atlanta was 2-4 on a six-game trip and now plays four of its next five games at home.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Hawks have won seven straight home games against the Wizards dating back to the 2007-08 campaign.
2. Guard Joe Johnson is averaging 19.6 points in 31 career games against Washington and has 18 points in Atlanta’s 101-83 victory on Dec. 28.
3. Wall has scored 20 or more points 16 times this season.