Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Atlanta Hawks made quite a splash this week, delivering the biggest upset at the start of the in-season tournament. The Hawks, with a semi-reserve lineup, snatched a victory in Boston (117:116). The Washington Wizards might seem like an ideal opponent to consolidate this success. Or is it?
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks' situation is unique, as they suddenly excelled at an unexpected moment when five of their main rotation players were sidelined with injuries. Trae Young was among those listed as injured, making his return not necessarily a guaranteed positive for the Hawks. The team's offensive leader attempts nearly 19 shots per game and is converting only 39%—the lowest mark of his career.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards defeated the Atlanta Hawks twice in succession just over two weeks ago—121:119 and 133:120. Those were the Wizards' best offensive performances of the season. In both cases, the relatively modest resources of the capital team shone brightly. Jordan Poole scored over 24 points, while their most consistent shooter, Corey Kispert, sank four three-pointers in each game.
Atlanta Hawks vs Washington Wizards Prediction
It's rather strange to see the even spread for the Washington Wizards, which recently didn't exceed 7.5 points, suddenly increase to 8.5 after one standout game from the Atlanta Hawks. We don't believe the Hawks have solved all their issues at once, so we'll side with the underdog.
