Atlanta is 2-2 after dropping both games to Houston, and it now plays Miami and Cleveland at home on consecutive nights. After that comes a road swing through New Orleans on Oct. 31, Indiana on Nov. 2 and Washington on Nov. 4.
Miami Is the Must-Have
Erik Spoelstra's Heat come to State Farm Arena Wednesday at 0-4, giving up 118.8 points per 100 possessions. That's a soft landing spot for an Atlanta offense that, by Brad Rowland's count at Locked On Hawks, managed an 88 offensive rating after halftime in Houston. Miami still has a problem to solve: Giannis Antetokounmpo is putting up 28.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a night. Davion Mitchell adds 18.0 points and 7.0 assists, and Bam Adebayo chips in 11.8 points and 7.3 boards. Both teams play fast, with Miami at a 103.0 pace and Atlanta at 103.5. Losing at home to a winless team would undo a lot of the early-season goodwill.
Cleveland Is the Race Game
Thursday's game against the Cavaliers is on NBA TV, and it's the second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland sits sixth at 2-1, a half game ahead of the seventh-place Hawks, so Thursday doubles as a direct swing in the playoff race. Atlanta and Miami both had a day off before Wednesday after playing three times in seven days. The fourth quarter in Houston is the worry for Thursday: the Rockets ran off 14 straight points, and Atlanta scored 25 to Houston's 29 in the period. The bench went quiet too, with Jock Landale and Luguentz Dort each finishing minus-17.
Who Sits, Who Carries
Mouhamed Gueye is out with a left foot injury, with an estimated return of Nov. 20, so he misses the whole stretch. Henri Veesaar is out with a right knee injury, with an estimated return of July 1, 2027. Miami lists no injuries. Jalen Johnson is averaging 21.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists, but he's shooting 15.8 percent from three. CJ McCollum went 4-7 from deep in Houston. Snyder's best five, with McCollum, Alexander-Walker, Okongwu, Johnson and Daniels, is plus-20.3 per 100 possessions. That group should get more minutes before the trip, which has a day off between each road game.
When do the Hawks play the Heat and the Cavaliers?
Atlanta hosts Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Cleveland on Thursday, Oct. 29. The Cavaliers game is on NBA TV.
Is Mouhamed Gueye playing this week?
No. Gueye is out with a left foot injury and has an estimated return date of Nov. 20.
