Hawks vs Hornets: Game Preview, Injury Report, Projected Starting Lineups

Can the Hawks win their final game before the All-Star Break?

The Hawks and the Hornets have not met since the first game of the season and here they are set to face off in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break. 

These two teams also look different than the start of the season. The Hornets are without superstar point guard LaMelo Ball and starting center Mark Williams, who was in the midst of a breakout season. The Hawks are without their top two centers Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela and that could pose a problem tonight, The Hornets are not a great rebounding team, but Okongwu and Capela are impactful players and Charlotte can take advantage of it. Terry Rozier and Gordan Hayward have done their fair share of damage to the Hawks over the years, but they were traded away. 

Atlanta was playing fairly well before hitting a brick wall against the Bulls on Monday, but they can bounce back and take down one of the worst teams in the NBA tonight, Charlotte has also won two in a row and upset the Pacers on Monday night. This is by no means an easy win. 

So wins tonight? Let's preview the game. 

Game Preview

This has a chance to be a shootout tonight, as it is a showdown between the two worst defenses in the NBA. 

Charlotte is also seeing two players emerge in the absence of Ball. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller have started playing at a high level, especially Bridges. He has two 40-point performances in his last five games and he shot at least 60% in both of those games. Miller has grown since the start of the season and is capable of putting up big numbers. 

The Hornets also acquired Grant Williams from the Mavs at the trade deadline and he has been a welcome addition. Things did not work out in Dallas for Williams after being traded from the Celtics, but the start to his tenure with the Hornets has been really good. 

While Charlotte does have those talented players, their offensive numbers are at the bottom of the league. The Hornets are 28th in PPG, 28th in field goal percentage, 20th in three-point attempts, 20th in three-point percentage, 30th in free-throw attempts, 27th in rebounding, and 19th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Charlotte is 28th in points per 100 possessions, 28th in effective field goal percentage, 21st in turnover percentage, 25th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 30th in free throw rate. 

The perfect medicine for a bad offense is usually the Hawks' defense. 

Chicago is one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA, but they put up a season-high in points with 136, and four of their starters had at least 20 points. It is possible that Bridges or Miller or someone else can disrupt the Hawks's defense and make it tough for them tonight. 

Atlanta is 30th in PPG allowed, 28th in field goal percentage allowed, and 27th in three-point percentage. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 27th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 29th in effective field goal percentage. 

Hawks guard Trae Young vs the Bulls / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The starting lineup for the Hawks is going to be interesting tonight with Capela and Okongwu out. Will the Hawks start Bruno Fernando or go with a small lineup and have Jalen Johnson or Saddiq Bey at center? Whatever they do, Fernando is going to have to play more minutes than normal. 

The Hawks are going to need better play tonight from their two-star guards. Young had 19 points and Murray had 17 in their game against the Bulls, but they shot a combined 10-31 from the field and 4-18 from three. Chicago has a far better defense than Charlotte, but when both of the Hawks guards are struggling, it is tough to win for Atlanta. 

Bey and Johnson have both been playing well over the last 10 games, but both turned up dud performances against the Bulls. With the Hawks being thin in the frontcourt, they can't afford to be a complete zero on offense. 

The Hawks had 51 points combined from Bogdan Bogdanovic and De'Andre Hunter on Monday night. The Hawks may start Hunter tonight if they decide to go small, but I guess that they keep him coming off the bench at least past the All-Star break. 

Atlanta is 3rd in PPG, 23rd in field goal percentage, 6th in three-point attempts, 17th in three-point percentage, 4th in free throw attempts, 7th in rebounding, and 14th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 9th in points per 100 possessions, 16th in effective field goal percentage, 9th in turnover percentage, 4th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 9th in free throw rate. 

Charlotte is 24th in PPG allowed, 30th in field goal percentage, and 29th in three-point percentage. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hornets are 30th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 30th in effective field goal percentage. 

Injury Report

Clint Capela (left adductor strain), AJ Griffin (illness), Mouhamed Gueye (right low back stress fracture), Wesley Matthews (illness), and Onyeka Okongwu (left big toe sprain) are all out tonight.

The Hawks provided an update on Okongwu and Capela yesterday:

"Center Clint Capela is progressing in his rehabilitation from a left adductor strain. He will be listed as out for tomorrow’s game at Charlotte and is expected to return to practice following the All-Star break.

Center Onyeka Okongwu left last night’s game vs. Chicago late in the fourth quarter with a left big toe injury. Following an X-ray last night at State Farm Arena and an MRI today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, Okongwu has been diagnosed with a left big toe sprain. He will be listed as out for tomorrow’s game at Charlotte and will be re-evaluated in seven-to-10 days."

Charlotte will be without LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams. 

Viewing and Betting Information

Tip-off time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast

Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be favorites on the road tonight, as they are currently 6.5 point favorites according to the latest odds from the SI Sportsbook

Projected Starting Lineups

Hawks:

G- Trae Young

G- Dejounte Murray

F- Jalen Johnson

F- Saddiq Bey

C- Bruno Fernando

Keep an eye on the starting lineup for the Hawks. They only have one healthy center right now. 

Hornets:

G- Tre Mann

G- Cody Martin

F- Brandon Miller

F- Miles Bridges

C- Nick Richards

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