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

Can the Hawks upset the Warriors tonight on the road?

On February 6th, 2015, the Hawks and the Warriors faced off in Atlanta and it was a matchup of the two best records in the NBA. Atlanta was 41-9 going into the game and the Warriors were 39-8 and it was a great game. Atlanta won 124-116 and both teams went on to be the top seed in their respective conferences, with Atlanta losing to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals and Golden State defeating the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. 

Flash forward nine years and the matchup is very different. 

The Warriors still have some of the core from the start of their championship run, but the Hawks obviously look much different. These are the two most disappointing teams in the NBA and they both need a win tonight. Atlanta is 10th in the East right now and Golden State is 12th. Both teams also have notable injuries coming into the game. 

So who wins tonight in Golden State? Let's break the game down. 

Game Preview

Dejounte Murray vs the Spurs / Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports

In the matchup in 2015, it was a showdown between the two best offenses in the NBA. Tonight, it is a matchup of two mediocre offenses. 

Golden State was the offensive juggernaut in the NBA for the better part of the past decade, but aside from Steph Curry, this team just does not have a lot of offensive threats and the numbers bear that out. The Warriors are 12th in PPG, 21st in field goal percentage, 4th in three-point attempts, 14th in three-point percentage, 4th in rebounding, and 24th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Warriors are 12th in points per 100 possessions, 14th in effective field goal percentage, 24th in turnover percentage, 3rd in offensive rebounding, and 16th in free throw rate. 

Curry is the 10th leading scorer in the NBA, averaging 26.7 PPG while shooting 44.6% from the field and 39.7% from three. Klay Thompson is averaging 17.3 PPG while shooting 42.4% from the field and 38.6% from three. They are still effective shooters and can have big nights, but they are not the most lethal duo in the NBA anymore. 

Against the Hawks's defense though, they might look like the most lethal duo in the NBA once again. Atlanta is 27th in PPG allowed, 28th in field goal percentage, 18th in three-point attempts allowed, and 24th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are 26th in points per 100 possessions and 29th in effective field goal percentage allowed. 

With Trae Young on the floor, Atlanta has one of the most effective offenses in the NBA. Without Young, Atlanta is average at best and they are going to be without Young for another game, meaning that Bogdan Bogdanovic is likely to start. 

Murray had 35 points and six assists in the last game vs the Kings, but he was the only player to have anything going on offense. Murray is a good player, but he can't create offense like Young can and get his teammates involved in the offense. Bogdanovic did have 18 points in the loss vs the Kings. 

Jalen Johnson had a team-worst -24 differential against Sacramento and he is going to need to be better with Young still out. 

Jalen Johnson vs the Wizards / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Quin Snyder kept a nine-man rotation against the Kings, with Onyeka Okongwu, Garrison Matthews, Trent Forrest, and Patty Mills coming off the bench for Atlanta, although Forrest only played eight minutes. I would look for something similar tonight. 

The Warrior's offense has dropped off from when they were at their peak, but not as much as their defense. Golden State is 22nd in PPG allowed, 19th in field goal percentage, 22nd in three-point attempts allowed, and 9th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Warriors are 22nd in points allowed per 100 possessions. Will their defense be good enough to stop the Hawks tonight without Trae Young? That could be what the game comes down to. 

Injury Report

Trae Young (NBA Concussion Policy) is out. Mouhamed Gueye (right low back stress fracture), De’Andre Hunter (right knee inflammation), Vit Krejci (left shoulder subluxation), and Wesley Matthews (right calf strain) are all out for Atlanta. Bruno Fernando is questionable with lower left back spasms.

Chris Paul, Moses Moody, and Gary Payton are all out for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is questionable. 

Viewing and Betting Information

Tip-off time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast

Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be underdogs on the road tonight, as they are currently 6.5-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- Bogdan Bogdanovic

G- Dejounte Murray

F- Saddiq Bey

F- Jalen Johnson

C- Clint Capela

Warriors:

G- Steph Curry

G- Klay Thompson

F- Andrew Wiggins

F- Draymond Green

C- Kevon Looney

Trae Young Among 41 Finalists For 2024 USA Men's National Basketball Team

Player to Watch on the Hawks- The Bench

This is not one player, but with Young and De'Andre Hunter out, the Hawks are short-handed and can't bring Bogdanovic or Bey off the bench like they wanted to at the beginning of the year. Okongwu, Matthews, and Mills will have to give the team some kind of production for the Hawks to have a chance. 

Player to Watch on the Warriors- Andrew Wiggins

Wiggins has been one of the most disappointing players in the NBA this year and does not look the same as he did during their run to the Finals two seasons ago. Wiggins has to start playing better for this team to get back into the playoff discussion and take some of the pressure off of Curry. 

Prediction

I don't think the Hawks can guard either Curry or Thompson and their bench does not have enough scoring upside to win this game. They will have to rely on their starters to carry the load tonight and that is going to be too tall of a task. 

Final Score: Warriors 113, Hawks 107

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