Hawks Face Wizards With Jalen Johnson’s Status Uncertain

The Atlanta Hawks host the Washington Wizards on November 4, with injuries potentially shaping the matchup. Hawks forward Jalen Johnson is listed as questionable, while Washington’s Alex Sarr and Anthony Gill are also uncertain to play. The Hawks list Mo Gueye, Kingston Flemings, Jock Landale and Henri Veesaar as out; Washington reports that Jamir Watkins and Justin Champagnie, along with Tristan Vukcevic and Reece Beekman, cannot play. Flemings is suspended.

Atlanta comes in after beating Indiana, despite facing a Pacers team missing 11 players, including its entire starting lineup. The Hawks led for most of the game but won by only two points, and were outscored 54-26 in the paint. They grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, compared with Indiana’s five.

Washington, 4-3, brings a strong early defensive record: it ranks eighth in defensive rating and has allowed opponents to shoot 28.6% from three-point range. Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker has made 40.3% of his three-pointers on 9.6 attempts per game, while CJ McCollum is shooting 37.2% from deep.

Anthony Davis is averaging 23 points and nine rebounds per game for Washington. If Sarr is available, the Hawks could face a challenge inside: Onyeka Okongwu is their only experienced NBA center expected to be available. The Wizards have struggled to create extra chances, ranking last in offensive rebounds per game, an area Atlanta may try to exploit.

The projected starters are CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson and Okongwu for Atlanta; and Trae Young, Kyshawn George, AJ Dybantsa, Davis and Sarr for Washington. Atlanta is listed as a 2.5-point favorite, with the game total set at 231.5 points. FOX Sports Southeast will broadcast the game; it is also available on Fubo.