Two nights after Atlanta walked out of Capital One with a 120-105 win, the 4-4 Wizards fly south for the rematch — NBA Cup East Group C at State Farm Arena. Trae Young’s first trip back as a visitor. Anthony Davis is questionable with the right ankle sprain he played through Wednesday; Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson is questionable again with a left ankle sprain.
Atlanta led for the final three quarters Wednesday and held Washington to 44 second-half points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 with six threes, Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels each grabbed 16 boards in a 57-41 rebounding edge, and the Hawks out-threed the Wizards 19-6 (Field Level Media via NBA.com). Davis had 26 and 10 despite leaving briefly in the third for treatment on a sore right ankle; Kyshawn George added 25. Trae Young scored 18 but was limited to six assists — well below his 9.5 average.
Davis sprained the right ankle early Wednesday, stayed in, and finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 30 minutes (Josh Robbins). The Wizards listed him questionable for tonight (@WashWizards). If he can’t go, Deandre Ayton is the likely frontcourt bump.
Alexander-Walker followed Monday’s 34 at Indiana with 26 and six threes Wednesday. Atlanta has won its last two without All-Star forward Jalen Johnson (left ankle), who is questionable again; Asa Newell (left great toe hyperextension, exited Wednesday) is out (NBA.com preview).
Young made four All-Star appearances in Atlanta before the January deal that sent him to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Wednesday was his first game against the Hawks; tonight is his first as a visitor in Atlanta (NBA.com). Quin Snyder: “Any time you guard a great player, it takes five guys.”
Trae’s postgame honesty: the offense “has been lacking, really to be honest, all season,” and they “definitely have to shoot more 3s” — with quality looks (NBA.com). Bijan Todd and Greg Finberg both flagged rebounding and threes as the twin problems after Wednesday (Bijan, Finberg).
| Team | Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAS | Anthony Davis | QUESTIONABLE | Right ankle sprain |
| WAS | Felix Okpara | DOUBTFUL | G League — two-way |
| WAS | Reece Beekman | OUT | Right AC joint injury |
| WAS | Justin Champagnie | OUT | Right foot surgery |
| WAS | Tristan Vukčević | OUT | Left hip impingement |
| WAS | Jamir Watkins | OUT | Left ACL repair/surgery |
| ATL | Jalen Johnson | QUESTIONABLE | Left ankle sprain |
| ATL | RayJ Dennis | QUESTIONABLE | G League — two-way / left knee |
| ATL | Jalen Wilson | QUESTIONABLE | G League — two-way / low back stress |
| ATL | Jock Landale | OUT | Left hip strain |
| ATL | Keshon Gilbert | OUT | Left knee inflammation |
| ATL | Mouhamed Gueye | OUT | Left foot fracture |
| ATL | Asa Newell | OUT | Left great toe hyperextension |
| ATL | Henri Veesaar | OUT | Right ACL tear |
Washington has lost the offensive-rebounding battle by double digits in all four losses, including 19 offensive boards allowed Wednesday (Finberg). Okongwu and Daniels combined for 32 boards last time. Crash or get crushed again.
Six made threes vs. Atlanta’s 19 is a hole you don’t dig out of. Trae said the looks still have to be quality (NBA.com). Volume without brick cities.
If Davis sits, Ayton and Sarr carry the paint on a night Atlanta is already thin up front (Landale, Gueye, Newell, Veesaar out). If he plays, manage the ankle — he already gutted through 30 minutes on it once.
Alexander-Walker has 60 points across the last two Hawks wins. Johnson’s return would change the math; another miss means more NAW and more Okongwu touches.
Trae at State Farm. First game in Atlanta in a visiting jersey. Snyder already flagged the pick-and-roll as the priority (NBA.com). Dave Johnson tees up Wizards radio at 6:45 (post).
Washington’s engine. Davis leads the Wizards at about 23.4 points and 9+ rebounds this season; he’s the difference between a coverable underdog and a blowout risk. 106.7 The Fan on the midweek loss: “Wizards Can’t Stop Hawks, Lose 120-105” (Grant & Danny rundown).
Here's a look at the Atlanta Hawks' 2026 NBA Cup court, which will be in use tonight when the Hawks host the Washington Wizards at State Farm Arena.
Hoopin' in ATL 🏀 ⏰ 7:00 p.m. ET 📺 @monsportsnet 📻 99.1 FM & Wizards App 📲 Monumental+ App
📻Today on Grant & Danny📻 🍻 LIVE from Schar Bar @ JW Marriott Reston 🏈 Myles Garrett Returns as WSH Preps for Rams 🏈 @markschlereth @ 5PM 🏀 Wizards in ATL, Looking for NBA Cup Win vs Hawks
3 in a row at home starting with NBA Cup tonight! 🆚 @WashWizards ⏰ 7 PM ET 📍 @StateFarmArena 📺 @ATLNewsFirst Peachtree Sports Network & @NBAonPrime
Need more of this tonight. As HEARD @WashWizards Radio SYNC @MonSportsNet @1067theFan … we start your Friday at 6:45 #RadioParty #ForTheDistrict
Through eight games, the Wizards rank 30th in offensive rebounds allowed/game (15.0) and 25th in total rebounds/game (50.8). It’s clear what the issue is. Yet they seemingly can’t find a fix.
📣 Team posts: this afternoon’s tip card “Hoopin' in ATL 🏀” (@WashWizards) and Josh Robbins’ look at the Hawks’ 2026 NBA Cup court (post). 106.7 The Fan’s Friday Grant & Danny show teed up “Wizards in ATL, Looking for NBA Cup Win vs Hawks” (post). Atlanta’s gameday card: “3 in a row at home starting with NBA Cup tonight!” (@ATLHawks).
Atlanta just beat them by 15 without Jalen Johnson and owns the glass and the arc. The number has moved out to −8.5 with Davis still questionable. Trae’s homecoming and a second look at the same roster are real — but the Hawks have won two straight without their All-Star forward and look like the better team right now.
Our gut: Hawks win outright. Wizards cover the +8.5 (Hawks −8.5, DraftKings via ESPN, ~4:10 PM ET snapshot). Pure vibes; there’s no model behind it.
📚 Previous issues: Wed Nov 4: Hawks at Wizards · Mon Nov 2: Wizards at Magic · Fri Oct 30: Hornets at Wizards · Wed Oct 28: Wizards at Cavaliers · Mon Oct 26: Wizards at Hornets · Sat Oct 24: Wizards at Bulls · Fri Oct 23: Raptors at Wizards