The Atlanta Hawks are in their best shape of the season as they gear up for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns, who are visiting.
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The Atlanta Hawks are in their best shape of the season as they gear up for Friday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, who are visiting. This is the first matchup between the teams this season. The Hawks secured victories in both games in the 2022-23 season and have been on a winning streak against the Suns in Atlanta, taking the last nine consecutive decisions.
Atlanta welcomed back De’Andre Hunter on Tuesday after he had been sidelined since December 20 due to knee inflammation. Despite playing just 16 minutes, his impact, especially on defense, was noticeable. Having him back is expected to provide a much-needed lift for the team as they approach the All-Star Game.
It’s unclear whether Hunter will be back in the starting lineup or stick to coming off the bench. Saddiq Bey and Jalen Johnson have been holding it down in the forward positions, delivering solid performances, with Johnson showing promise as a key contributor.
On Tuesday, the Hawks secured their second consecutive victory, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 138-122.
For the Hawks, Fernando (back injury), Gueye (back injury), and Krejci (shoulder injury) will not be playing the game. As for the Suns, Lee (knee injury) will miss this one out. Besides, Allen is questionable for the game due to an ankle injury.
The Suns are set to challenge Atlanta’s defense, having clinched their ninth win in 11 games with a 136-120 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The Suns boast offensive firepower with players like Devin Booker, averaging 28.3 points per game, and Kevin Durant, with 28.4 points per game. Durant had a stellar performance against the Nets, racking up 33 points and eight assists.
Bradley Beal, the seasoned player with an average of 17.3 points, has managed to score an impressive 22.0 points in 33 career games (32 starts) against the Hawks.
In their game against Brooklyn, the Suns displayed their offensive prowess in the third quarter, putting up 42 points while shooting an impressive 76.2 percent (16-for-21), effectively securing the victory.
The Suns were missing guard Grayson Allen on Wednesday. He exited Sunday’s game in Miami after just 13 minutes due to an ankle sprain.
As for Atlanta, they’re in the midst of their six-game homestand and are heading into the third game. The homestand will keep rolling with a back-to-back against Golden State on Saturday.
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