The Hawks visit an unbeaten Houston team tonight, two days after a 114-121 home loss that started 5-27 from three. Atlanta is still third at 2-1, and the question is whether the shooting returns.
Rematch in Houston tonight
Atlanta plays at Houston Monday, October 26, and the Rockets are 3-0 with Ime Udoka's group riding a three-game streak. The Hawks are 2-1, third in the standings and level with sixth place. Houston lists Steven Adams out and Marcus Smart day-to-day with a forearm injury. Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks reported that Jock Landale, who has a nasal fracture, is available. Mouhamed Gueye is out with a left foot injury, estimated back November 20, and Henri Veesaar remains out.
Was 5-27 just variance?
The Hawks started 5-27 from three on Saturday, and Onyeka Okongwu finished 0-5 and a minus-13. Rowland wrote that much of the loss was negative shooting variance. He also said the Dunc'd On luck-adjusted model had Atlanta winning by 11, though he did not call that gospel. He added that Atlanta won the possession battle and took 48% of the rebounds. The Hawks still found a late push, a 9-0 run that cut Houston's lead to 117-112 with 36 seconds left.
The number and the question
Pace projects the Hawks to 55-27 with 79 games left, a number that rests on three games and one clean blowout at Charlotte. Jalen Johnson gave them 26 points and 16 assists on 8-19 shooting, so the creation is working. Aaron Wiggins hit four threes off the bench, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker took 12 and made four. The open question is whether Okongwu and Dyson Daniels, both cold from deep last Saturday, can turn that into spacing before Miami arrives Wednesday and Cleveland follows Thursday.
When do the Hawks play the Rockets again?
Atlanta plays at Houston on Monday, October 26, two days after the 121-114 Rockets win in Atlanta. The Hawks then host the Heat on October 28.
Who is injured for the Hawks right now?
Mouhamed Gueye is out with a left foot injury and is estimated back on November 20. Henri Veesaar is out with a right knee injury, and Jock Landale, who has a nasal fracture, is available.
