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

Can Atlanta overcome Houston's elite defense on the road tonight?

As winners of two of their last three games, Atlanta will look to keep putting wins together tonight, but they will have to go against one of the elite defenses in the NBA tonight in Houston. 

After hiring former Celtics coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets have turned a young team that was looking to win into one that is winning consistently. Smart veteran additions have made this team into a potential playoff contender and one of the more intriguing teams this season. 

This is the first matchup between these teams this season and they wil face off against later in the year in Atlanta. 

So who will win in the matchup between an elite offense and an elite defense? Let's preview the game and make a prediction. 

Game Preview

Dejounte Murray vs the Pistons / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Hawks come into this game with one of the best offenses in the NBA and they are going to need everyone to play at a high level against this Rockets defense. The big question for the Hawks tonight will be the status of Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is questionable for this game with right ankle inflammation. If he plays, it is another offensive player to throw at this defense, but if he does not play, guys like Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are going to shoulder the load on offense. 

The good news for the Hawks is that Young is playing like one of the best point guards in the NBA right now. 

Young is averaging a career-high 11.0 assists and 1.29 steals, in addition to 28.1 points in 36.1 minutes per game. Young, who became the third-youngest player in NBA history to bury 900 three-pointers (25 years, 51 days) in Atlanta’s win over the Orlando Magic on Nov. 9, is the only player in the NBA this season averaging at least 28.0 points and 10.0 assists. The 6-1 guard is leading the league in total assists for the third straight season, handing out 263 helpers in 24 games played. Young owns an NBA-leading 13 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, in addition to an Eastern Conference-leading six games with 30 or more points and 10 or more assists (second-most in NBA). The Oklahoma product put together a 45-point, 14-assist outing on Nov. 30, marking his 12th career game with at least 40 points and 10 assists, tying LeBron James and Allen Iverson for the eighth-most such games in NBA history.

Dejounte Murray currently ranks sixth in the East in steals per game (tied 10th in the NBA), averaging 1.54 thefts per contest. He owns 11 multi-steal outings this season, tied for the most such games by an Eastern Conference player and tied for the fourth-most by any player in the NBA. Murray is one of only four players in the East (one of seven in NBA) averaging at least 20.0 points (20.0), 5.0 assists (5.4) and 1.5 steals (1.54) per contest. Leading Atlanta to a 21-point comeback victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 30, the 6-5 guard poured in a career-high tying 41 points, netting 22 points on a perfect shooting clip in the third quarter alone (8-8 FGM, 2-2 3FGM, 4-4 FTM). Murray, who made his first 11 field goals of the second half, became the first player in the NBA since Serge Ibaka (11/4/18, 1st half), to begin either half by knocking down 11 straight shots.

Dejounte Murray vs the Pistons / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

It was good to see De'Andre Hunter look assertive on Monday night vs the Pistons, finishing with 19 points and playing solid defense. 

If Bogdanovic does not play, the Hawks bench is going to have to play better. Guys like Wesley Matthews, Garrison Matthews, Onyeka Okongwu, and even rookie Seth Lundy have to give the Hawks more. The reason the Pistons hung around on Monday was because the Hawks' bench could not contribute what was needed. 

The Hawks rank 3rd in the NBA in PPG, 16th in field goal percentage, 9th in three-point percentage, 3rd in offensive rebounding, and 16th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 4th in points per 100 possessions, 13th in effective field goal percentage, 10th in turnover rate, 4th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 9th in free throw rate. 

They are going against what might be the NBA's best defense though and with guys like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, it will be tough for the Hawks's playmaking guards tonight. The Rockets are 2nd in PPG allowed, 3rd in FG% allowed, and 1st in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Houston is 2nd in points allowed per 100 possessions and 2nd in effective field goal percentage allowed. 

Where the game might be won is when the Rockets have the ball. Houston has a below-average offense, but the Hawks have one of the worst defenses in the NBA and let pretty much anyone score on them. Detroit and Toronto have two of the worst offenses in the NBA and had good nights against the Hawks recently. 

Trae Young vs the Raptors / Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Hawks are 28th in the NBA in PPG allowed, 29th in field goal percentage allowed, and 25th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 25th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 28th in effective field goal percentage allowed. 

Houston is 26th in PPG, 24th in field goal percentage, 19th in three-point percentage, 22nd in offensive rebounding, and 11th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Rockets are 20th in points per 100 possessions, 23rd in effective field goal percentage, 15th in turnover percentage, 21st in offensive rebounding percentage, and 14th in free throw rate. 

Injury Report

Bogdanovic is the guy to watch on the injury report for the Hawks. If he goes, it will give the Hawks a huge boost in this game. Jalen Johnson, Kobe Bufkin, Mouhamed Gueye, and AJ Griffin are also out for the Hawks. 

Jae'Sean Tate and Amen Thompson are questionable for the Rockets. 

Viewing and Betting Information

Tip-off time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast

Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be underdogs tonight, as they are currently 3.5-point underdogs according to the latest odds from the SI Sportsbook and the over/under is set at 234.5

Projected Starting Lineups

Hawks:

G- Trae Young

G- Dejounte Murray

F- De'Andre Hunter

F- Saddiq Bey

C- Clint Capela

Rockets:

G- Fred VanVleet

G- Jalen Green

F- Dillon Brooks

F- Jabari Smith

C- Alperen Sengun

Player to Watch on the Hawks- Trae Young

Young is arguably playing the best basketball of his career and he is going to have to carry the Hawks right now with their injuries and facing an elite defense like the Rockets, Young is going to have to have another huge game. 

Player to Watch on the Rockets- Dillon Brooks

Brooks is among the most criticized players in the NBA, but he is easily one of the best defensive players in the NBA and he is going to be tasked with guarding Young or Murray tonight. Brooks is also having a good year shooting from three and can be a difference-maker on that end as well. 

Prediction

These are the kinds of teams that give the Hawks trouble. Houston is good enough on defense to limit the Hawks's elite offense and because the Hawks's defense is so poor, even an offense that is as average as the Rockets can have success with players like VanVleet and Sengun. The Rockets are also a really good team at home and all of those factors have me picking Houston in this game. 

Final Score: Rockets 117, Hawks 112

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