Key Highlights
- The Atlanta Hawks are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight in their first game of a four-game road trip.
- Jalen Johnson will return for the Hawks, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker remains out.
- Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal are also out for the Clippers.
- The Hawks have been dealing with injuries but are showing improvement in their defensive performance despite Trae Young’s absence.
Upcoming Matchup: Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The Atlanta Hawks, embarking on a challenging four-game road trip starting tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, will be aiming to bolster their defensive prowess while navigating through some key injuries.
In this matchup, the Hawks are set to welcome back Jalen Johnson after his brief home stint where they managed two victories from three games. However, they’ll be without Nickeil Alexander-Walker once again, as he continues to miss playtime.
Key Player Returns and Absences
The return of Jalen Johnson is a significant boost for the Hawks. Johnson’s presence will strengthen their forward lineup, providing much-needed support on both ends of the court. Meanwhile, the absence of star guard Trae Young continues to impact the team’s overall performance.
Clippers Lineup and Defense
The Clippers are missing key players Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal for tonight’s game. This presents a potential opening for the Hawks to exploit in their defensive efforts, given that the Clippers usually rely on these players’ contributions.
Despite being without some of their top players, the Hawks have shown promising signs defensively. They rank 9th in points allowed per game and 7th in field goal percentage allowed, indicating an improvement from previous seasons when they struggled with defensive metrics like rebounds and blocks.
Injury Report and Recent Performance
Recent games have showcased the impact of the Hawks’ injuries. In their match against the Lakers on Saturday, they were without Young, Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis, Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard—five of their top eight rotation players. This absence significantly affected their performance.
However, the advanced statistics reveal a more balanced picture of the Hawks’ current state.
They are 20th in points per game, 15th in field goal percentage, and 9th in defensive rating. While not at the top of the league standings, these figures suggest that they can still compete effectively with a strong team effort.
On the other hand, the Clippers start their season struggling offensively, ranking 28th in points per game while maintaining a solid defensive stance despite some gaps in key areas like rebounds and blocks. Their advanced metrics place them 27th in defensive rating, indicating that they could still pose a formidable challenge to the Hawks.
As both teams prepare for tonight’s critical matchup, all eyes will be on how the Hawks can leverage their recent improvements to secure a victory against the Clippers despite the injuries and without their star player Trae Young.
