The now 1–15 Washington Wizards are inching ever closer to the franchise’s consecutive loss record of 16 in a row and are looking to stop said streak against the 11–7 Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks’ red-hot start to the season is all the more impressive considering they have done so without All-NBA guard Trae Young, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. Atlanta may be without their best player, but other Hawks have emerged this season, allowing them to continue to build momentum in his absence.
Emerging Stars
There has arguably been no player on a better run than Jalen Johnson in the stretch of games without Young. Johnson is doing his best Nikola Jokić impression, averaging a near triple-double of 22.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 7 assists a game — all of which lead the team.
Johnson has emerged as the team’s lead creator in recent weeks, thriving in the role on both ends of the floor. He has been impactful in the half-court, but is at his best in the open floor, using his athleticism and playmaking to constantly create plays.