Washington twice cut Atlanta’s lead to four in the third quarter on Wednesday. By the finish, the Wizards had a 15-point loss. The teams meet again Friday with the venue reversed and a clear question left over: can Washington interrupt Atlanta’s scoring runs before its own good offensive stretches get swallowed up?
Two injury questions could change the rematch
DraftKings lists the Hawks as 6.5-point favorites at home. Atlanta is 5–4 after winning three of its last four games, while Washington is 4–4. Wednesday’s 120–105 result is the most direct evidence available for this matchup, but the health of two important forwards could change the rematch.
Anthony Davis is questionable with a right ankle sprain, according to Thursday’s report from Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson is also questionable with an ankle issue after missing Wednesday’s game. Both are in projected lineups that remain unconfirmed. Davis’ availability affects a Washington team that just received 26 points and 10 rebounds from him; Johnson’s status leaves open whether Atlanta has another option beyond the group that won the first meeting.
Atlanta has ruled out Asa Newell, Jock Landale and Keshon Gilbert.
Washington’s individual scoring needs defensive support
In AP’s recap of Wednesday’s game, Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 26 points and six three-pointers. Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and 16 rebounds, while CJ McCollum and Aaron Wiggins contributed 15 points apiece. The Hawks had several ways to keep the offense moving without Johnson.
Davis wasn’t Washington’s only productive scorer: Kyshawn George finished with 25 points and Trae Young had 18. The problem was how Atlanta answered. A 13–0 Hawks run built a 16-point lead in the second quarter. Later, after Young’s three pulled Washington within four, Corey Kispert immediately responded with a four-point play. The Wizards never got closer than six after that.
Washington’s scoring kept giving it a chance, but its defense couldn’t sustain the comeback. The Wizards need consecutive stops to make their productive stretches count, especially if Davis is unavailable.
Washington did put together two stronger defensive results before facing Atlanta, beating Charlotte 95–79 and Orlando 103–94. Those wins came against different opponents, but they give the Wizards something to build on. Friday asks whether they can produce that resistance against a team that just punished their lapses.
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The 227.5 total depends on how much repeats
Washington’s last seven games have gone Under their game totals, and Atlanta’s last four have done the same. Wednesday belongs to both streaks: its 225 combined points stayed below the 229.5 line. Friday’s 227.5 total sits closer to that score. The Under streaks provide context, but the lower threshold makes another Under a different test.
Alexander-Walker’s six threes helped Atlanta reach 120, so Washington has a concrete place to look for improvement. Reducing those scoring bursts could help the Wizards stay close while limiting the combined score. Yet the Hawks’ supporting scorers also helped them stay ahead. Slowing Alexander-Walker would be a start; Washington still needs to stop the next answer.
Davis supplied 26 of Washington’s 105 points in the first meeting. If he sits, the Wizards would need more scoring from the rest of the group. Atlanta’s personnel could change too if Johnson plays, so Wednesday’s score is a useful reference rather than a forecast for the rematch.
Atlanta’s immediate answers are the clearest reason for its favorite status. Washington’s route to a closer finish is turning a scoring burst into a sustained comeback, with stops that allow the next basket to cut the deficit. That is the change to look for in this rematch, alongside the two forwards’ availability.
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