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

The Hawks go for their sixth win in their last eight games when they face the Rockets at home tonight

After beating the Houston Rockets last night, the Atlanta Hawks come home for the second night of a back-to-back against the Houston Rockets. 

Whenever teams are on a back-to-back, the opposing team can have a rest advantage, but that is not the case tonight. The Rockets were on the road in Toronto last night and lost a tight game to the Raptors and now they have to travel all the way down to Atlanta to face the Hawks. 

Earlier in the season, the Hawks went to Houston and got an impressive win on the road. They led for most of the way, but Houston made a big run in the second half to close the gap. It was an impressive win against what was once one of the top teams in the Western Conference. 

Houston started the year off hot and was near the top of the conference. Things have changed since the last time these two teams played. Houston is still in the play-in tournament conversation, but they are on the outside looking in right now. They have lost three straight and four of their last five and they are definitely beatable. 

When teams are on a back-to-back, the injury report is always vital. Be sure to keep a close eye on both team's injury reports to see if anyone is being added. The Hawks were missing Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, and Wesley Matthews last night. It is also possible that De'Andre Hunter will miss tonight's game due to knee injury management. He has yet to play both games of a back-to-back since coming back from his injury. 

Fred VanVleet missed last night's game for the Rockets. 

Let's preview tonight's game. 

Game Preview

Trae Young shooting vs the Rockets / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Like the last time that these two teams played each other, it will be a matchup of one of the NBA's best offenses vs one of the NBA's best defenses. 

The Hawks have been playing well on offense for the past couple of weeks and Trae Young has been the reason why. Young had 37 points and 12 assists in the win over the 76ers last night and the Hawks offense had a great night through three quarters. They held on at the end, but they did not score the ball well in the final quarter last night. 

The other player that has been playing fantastic as of late is Onyeka Okongwu. Clint Capela is out with an injury and Okongwu has started the last three games and has played exceptionally. He had 21 points and eight rebounds last night and is playing good defense. It might be his time to audition to be the starting center in the years to come and he is running away with the opportunity. 

Saddiq Bey is also playing well right now. He had 25 points against the Celtics on Wednesday and 18 against the 76ers last night. 

The one Hawk who needs to perform better is Bogdan Bogdanovic. He has been thrust into the starting role with Murray out these past two games and has not shot the ball well or scored. He was 5-12 against Philadelphia last night and only had 13 points. 

The Hawks are currently 3rd in PPG, 23rd in field goal percentage, 6th in three-point attempts, 18th in three-point percentage, 4th in free throw attempts, 7th in rebounding, and 15th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 10th in points per 100 possessions, 19th in effective field goal percentage, 10th in turnover percentage, 4th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 9th in free throw rate.

Hawks Stop 76ers' Fourth Quarter Comeback and Get the Road Win

The Rockets have a very good defense and that is something that has not changed since these two teams last met. Houston is 10th in PPG allowed, 5th in field goal percentage allowed, 21st in three-point attempts allowed, and 3rd in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Rockets are 6th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 5th in effective field goal percentage. Guys like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks can make life difficult for the Hawks guards. 

The game is going to be interesting on the other side. The Hawks' defense is the worst in the NBA and will let just about anyone score on them. While Houston does not have an elite offense, they have players that can have big games. Jalen Green can explode for a big night on offense. 

Jalen Green is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. The former No. 2 overall pick can have nights where he is scoring 30+ points and his athleticism jumps out. Then he has nights like last night against the Raptors where he only scores seven points. He is not a good defender and when he is not scoring, it is tough to have him on the floor. 

Houston is 21st in PPG, 24th in field goal percentage, 15th in three-point attempts, 20th in three-point percentage, 9th in free throw attempts, 5th in rebounding, and 10th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Houston is 21st in points per 100 possessions, 26th in effective field goal percentage, 6th in turnover percentage, 19th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 14th in free throw rate. 

Atlanta is last in PPG allowed, 29th in field goal percentage allowed, 22nd in three-point attempts allowed, and 28th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are 27th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 29th in effective field goal percentage allowed. 

Injury Report

Dejounte Murray (right lower back spasm), De'Andre Hunter (right knee injury management), Wesley Matthews (illness), and Patty Mills (illness) are all questionable. Murray has missed the last two games while Mills and Matthews missed last night's game.

Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, Cam Whitmore, and Tari Eason are all out for the Rockets.  

Viewing and Betting Information

Tip-off time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast

Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be favorites at home tonight, as they are currently 4.5 point favorites according to the latest odds from the SI Sportsbook

Projected Starting Lineups

Hawks:

G- Trae Young

G- Dejounte Murray

F- Saddiq Bey

F- Jalen Johnson

C- Clint Capela

If Murray is out, look for Bogdan Bogdanovic to start.

Rockets:

G- Amen Thompson

G- Jalen Green

F- Dillon Brooks

F- Jabari Smith

C-Jock Landale

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