7:40 pm
December 18

Wizards @ Hawks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Wizards (12-18)

@ Atlanta Hawks (6-23)

 

Current odds:

Washington Wizards: (-140)

Atlanta Hawks: (+120)

 

• The line for this game is Washington by 2.5 points.

• The Washington Wizards are fresh off an impressive performance and hoping they can produce another when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Washington dismantled LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 128-110 on Sunday to halt a four-game slide. Wizards point guard John Wall had his best game of the season with 40 points and 14 assists against Los Angeles and he hopes the trouncing is the start of a turnaround.

• Atlanta has dropped three straight games and seven of its past eight and its defense was atrocious in Sunday’s 144-127 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The Hawks allowed an average of 129 points during a three-game road swing against the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and the Nets.

• Washington doesn’t know yet if veteran forward Trevor Ariza will be suited up for the game on Tuesday to begin his second stint with the club. Ariza was acquired from the Phoenix Suns for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and guard Austin Rivers and shooting guard Bradley Beal is looking forward to seeing him back on the floor. “Trev has a spark about himself. He has a true desire to win,” Beal told reporters. “He doesn’t care what it looks like – he is going to go out there and do it. He always accepts the challenge defensively and his leadership qualities and his [ability to be vocal], everything he’s about, his morals on and off the floor, is everything that we need. He’s a great character guy, perfect fit.”

• Second-year power forward John Collins is looking like a future star and he has scored 20 or more points in five of the past six games. The 21-year-old had a streak of five double-doubles until contributing 29 points and eight rebounds in Sunday’s loss to the Nets and he is averaging 23.3 points and 12.7 rebounds during the six-game stretch. Point guard Trae Young posted his ninth double-double of the season when he had 13 points and 10 assists against Brooklyn.

• Beal scored a season-high 36 points as Washington posted a 131-117 road win over the Hawks on Dec. 5.

• Young scored 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting and committed six turnovers in the loss to the Wizards.

• Washington PF Markieff Morris (neck) departed Sunday’s game and is questionable to play against Atlanta.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Washington Wizards
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