Grade the Game at any time!
Tonight: The 22-16 Atlanta Hawks travel to Brooklyn to take on the 23-16 Brooklyn Nets, at 7:30 P.M. EST, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Hawks had lost six of their last seven games before blowing out the Nets 109-95 despite missing star forward Josh Smith. The Nets had been 9-1 in the P.J. Carlesimo era before Wednesday night’s loss.
Watch & Listen: Tonight’s game is broadcast on YES Network. Ryan Ruocco and Greg Anthony are on the call. The game is radio broadcast on WFAN Radio, and simulcast in Spanish on WADO.
Out: Nobody for Brooklyn. (I know!) Tornike Shengelia and Jerry Stackhouse are inactive. For Atlanta, former Nets guard Anthony Morrow did not make the trip with the Hawks. Josh Smith, who sat out after a one-game team suspension, will play. UPDATE: The Hawks announce that Al Horford will not start tonight’s game. Horford has been fighting hamstring issues. Zaza Pachulia, who nearly put up a triple-double (13 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists) on Wednesday night vs. Brooklyn, will start in his place.
More info after the jump.
Projected Starters:
Atlanta Hawks: Devin Harris, Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Brook Lopez
Advanced Statistics:
Atlanta Hawks: 101.5 offensive rating (15th), 100.8 defensive rating (9th), 93.53 possessions per game (19th)
Brooklyn Nets: 105.1 offensive rating (8th), 104.0 defensive rating (21st), 90.37 possessions per game (29th)
Last time: Wasn’t that long ago. One day after the Nets utilized an extra gear to get quick points against the Toronto Raptors, the Hawks turned that gear into overdrive, running all over the fatigued Nets, taking a lead as high as 26, and turning the second half into garbage time.
Go Nets!
