Atlanta Hawks — Washington Wizards 139:132: result and stats

The Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards complete a home-and-home set with far more than local pride at stake, as the rematch doubles as an NBA Cup East Group C fixture. Atlanta won the first meeting 120-105 in Washington, a result that moved the Hawks to 5-4 and dropped the Wizards to 4-4, and the two teams now sit first and second in the Southeast Division. The Hawks are more likely to win, with a 69 percent chance against Washington’s 31, and a combined score around 230 points is expected, with the total line at 229.5.

The first meeting and the blueprint it offered

The Hawks won the opener by leaning on two clear advantages: perimeter shooting and the offensive glass. Atlanta made 19 three-pointers on 49 attempts, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker hitting six of them on his way to 26 points. Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and 16 rebounds, and Dyson Daniels contributed eight points, eight assists and 16 rebounds, helping Atlanta build a 63-48 rebounding edge. Washington, by contrast, made only 6 of 26 threes and was doubled up on the offensive boards, conceding 19 second-chance points.

That performance is the template the Hawks will try to repeat. The Wizards’ best response is not necessarily a shootout but a more physical, interior-oriented game that limits Atlanta’s transition opportunities and forces the Hawks into half-court execution. Washington actually outscored Atlanta 62-50 in the paint, and Anthony Davis’s 26 points and 10 rebounds suggest the Wizards can punish Atlanta inside if they commit to that approach.

Trae Young’s return to Atlanta

Trae Young faces the Hawks in Atlanta for the first time since the January trade that sent him to Washington, and the emotional weight of the occasion is unavoidable. Young spent seven-plus seasons with Atlanta, made four All-Star appearances and became the face of the franchise before being dealt for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. His first meeting against his former team was muted: 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting and only six assists, well below his 9.5 average.

The Hawks defended Young with a collective approach, using their length and rotations to disrupt his pick-and-roll rhythm. Atlanta coach Quin Snyder acknowledged that Young remains “one of the very best pick-and-roll players in the league” and warned that the Hawks will need to be even better in the rematch. Washington’s offense has struggled all season, and Young’s ability to generate clean looks for Davis and Kyshawn George will determine whether the Wizards can keep pace.

Atlanta’s form and the Johnson question

The Hawks have won three of their last four, including two straight without Jalen Johnson, who is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain. Johnson leads Atlanta in rebounds (9.0) and assists (7.9) and adds 18.3 points per game, so his absence reshapes the Hawks’ rotation. If he sits, Lu Dort is expected to start in his place, with Corey Kispert seeing minutes at power forward and Zuby Ejiofor backing up Okongwu at center.

Atlanta’s depth has held up without Johnson because Alexander-Walker has carried the scoring load and Daniels has controlled the game on both ends. Ejiofor was a standout off the bench in the first meeting, contributing 11 points, three rebounds and two steals, and his energy fits the identity Snyder is trying to build. The Hawks are 3-1 at home this season, and their home crowd should give them an additional edge in a Cup game that matters for group positioning.

Washington’s rebounding and shooting problems

The Wizards’ issues in the first meeting were not isolated. Washington is last in the league in three-pointers made per game (8.8) and fifth from the bottom in rebounds per contest (41.0). The Wizards were outrebounded 57-41 and allowed 19 offensive boards, with Daniels alone grabbing seven. Washington’s three seven-footers — Davis, Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton — combined for only five offensive rebounds, a statistic that points to a collective failure rather than a personnel problem.

Washington’s defense has been its stabilizing force, holding consecutive opponents under 100 points before the Atlanta loss. The Wizards will need that defense to travel, because their offense has yet to find a consistent rhythm. George has been a bright spot, scoring 25 points on efficient shooting in the first meeting, and Davis remains the primary interior option. If Bilal Coulibaly is sidelined by illness, Tre Johnson and Will Riley could see expanded bench minutes.

Injuries, line-ups and what is at stake

Atlanta’s injury report lists Johnson as questionable, while Asa Newell (left great toe hyperextension), Jock Landale (left hip strain), Keshon Gilbert (left knee inflammation), Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar are all out. The Hawks’ probable five, if Johnson plays, is Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Kispert, Johnson and Okongwu, with Dort, Ejiofor and McCollum as the main bench options.

Washington lists Sarr as day-to-day with a knee issue, Coulibaly as questionable due to illness, and Reece Beekman, Tristan Vukcevic, Justin Champagnie and Jamir Watkins as out. The Wizards’ expected group is Young, George, Davis, Sarr and Ayton, though Sarr’s availability could shift Ayton into a larger role.

For the Hawks, a win would give them a 1-0 start in Cup group play and complete a home-and-home sweep. For the Wizards, this is a chance to avoid a third straight loss, climb back above .500 and split the series against a division rival. The expected total of around 230 points suggests a more open game than the first meeting’s 225-point output, but the decisive factor will be whether Washington can control the glass and generate enough perimeter shooting to keep Atlanta from dictating pace. If the Hawks replicate their rebounding and three-point volume, their home advantage should hold. If the Wizards turn the game into a half-court, interior battle and Young finds his pick-and-roll rhythm, the rematch could be far tighter than the first.

Preview prepared from the match data · 6 November