Atlanta Hawks Season Hits New Low-Point With Lifeless Performance and a Blowout Loss to the Wizards

Atlanta is now 15-23 after the loss to the Wizards

Things are not going well for the Atlanta Hawks and that is the nicest way to put it. 

At home, against the worst defensive team in the NBA, the Hawks looked lifeless and lethargic the entire night and the end result was a blowout loss to one of the worst teams in the NBA. 

This is yet another performance for the Hawks that has resulted in an ugly result and they are starting to pile up for them. From giving up 150 points to the Pacers last Friday, getting blown out by the Pacers again last night when Indiana was missing Haliburton, and then tonight. It is fair to ask if the trade rumors surrounding this team are starting to have an effect on them. Atlanta has put together some bad performances this season, but tonight was their magnum opus. Atlanta has now lost two in a row and four of their last five and this is against a winnable stretch of games. Their record is now 15-23, eight games below .500. 

Atlanta came into the game 3-0 vs the Wizards this season. They had no trouble scoring against the Wizards in their previous three games. 

Let's recap a disastrous night in Atlanta. 

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After coming into the game on the injury report, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray were able to play. Despite being on the second night of a back-to-back, the Hawks were not missing any players other than the ones that have been on the injury report for weeks. Young, Murray, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela were the first five on the floor for the Hawks. Tyus Jones, Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, and Daniel Gafford were the starters for Washington. 

Clint Capela vs the Wizards / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Washington held a five point lead at the end of the first quarter, 30-25. It was the start of a big night for Kuzma, who had 13 points. You could already see the offensive problems starting for the Hawks, as they shot 32% from the field in the quarter and 27% from three. 

The problem with that? They were playing the worst defense in the NBA from a statistical standpoint and they still could not get shots to fall. This would be the them for the rest of the evening. 

Things would only get worse from there for Atlanta. 

Washington led 58-47 at the half and the problem for the Hawks was on offense. Sure, the defense was not playing at a really high-level, but it was better than most nights. The Hawks were shooting 30.8% from the field and 28% from three at the half. Washington was shooting 46.7% from the floor and 40% from three at the half. 

Kuzma led all scorers with 22 points. No player on the Hawks was in double-figures. 

The second half snowballed out of control quickly. Washington outscored the Hawks 41-24 in the quarter and pushed the lead to 28 points going into the third quarter. 

Yes. The 6-31 Washington Wizards went into the fourth quarter with a 28-point lead. 

Washington won the game 127-99. 

The thing that is concerning is the lack of effort and sense of urgency in this game. The first quarter was okay, but Washington dominated the game after that. This is one of the worst teams in the NBA, one the Hawks were 3-0 against coming into the game, and one that was on six game losing streak coming into the game as well. 

The Hawks have hit a new low point this season and it is tough to see things getting much better anytime soon. 

Atlanta hosts the Spurs on Monday afternoon. 

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