標籤: Hawks

The New York Knicks made a tremendous comeback on Saturday night. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114–98 to tie the first-round playoff series 2–2.

After losing two games in a row, New York was focused, physical and determined when it came out of the locker room. Here are three things we discovered after Game 4.

The Knicks always need a wakeup call

This team seems to play its best basketball when its back is against the wall. After losses in Games 2 and 3, including a blowout 109–108 loss where they blew a late lead, the Knicks came to Atlanta with something to prove. And he did exactly that.

With a jump ball at tip-off, New York set the tone. They led in every quarter, ran sharp offensive sets and defended with alacrity. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with a postseason triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), and OG Anunoby exploded for 22 points.

Knicks’ true character – tough, deep and disciplined – was revealed in the moment he felt the pressure. This is quite reassuring, but at the same time, it is also a little worrying as we head towards a winner-takes-all series.

Mickle Bridge requires less than 20 minutes

We all know Mikal Bridges just isn’t producing when it comes to the biggest moments of the playoffs. After a scoreless performance with a shocking minus-26, the Knicks reduced their time on the floor in Game 4.

Although he scored a few times in the first half, his defensive mistakes and offensive struggles put him at risk in crunch time.

Mike Brown needs to accept the truth. In one trade, Bridges was the reason the Knicks had to give up five first-round picks; However, in the playoffs, performance matters, not loyalty.

Limiting their playing time to under 20 minutes allows the Knicks to keep their most effective and reliable players on the field in the final minutes, while also getting some benefits from their length and defense in controlled doses.​

Kat needs to be the main guy, not Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson is the heart of this team, but this game tells a clear story: They turned the ball over six times. Meanwhile, Kat was an absolute monster. He scored, counter-attacked and planned attacks all night long.

When the Knicks run the post and play through Towns in the mid-range, they look like a completely different team. The Knicks are at their best when the Cats are dominating and Game 4 proved that again.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Things are looking pretty bad for the New York Knicks right now. They currently trail the series against the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 and will play again at State Farm Arena for Game 4 on Saturday.

They really need to win this game if they want to keep the series going. If they lose another game then it will be very difficult for them to make a comeback in the series.

The series has unfolded completely differently than anyone in New York had expected. The Knicks won Game 1 but lost Games 2 and 3 by a combined two points, with both losses decided by the final possession.

In Game 3, the Hawks again answered in the fourth quarter, with CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga scoring points. New York had 18 turnovers and made only 28.6% of their shots from three-point range.

A 3-1 series loss against the Hawks would be a disaster for a team built to go deep. Mike Brown knows this. This is what every Knicks fan is watching. Here are three bold predictions for Game 4.

Prediction 1: Jalen Brunson scores over 25 and plays like himself again

Brunson has scored 26, 29 and 28 points in back-to-back games in this series, so the points have clearly been up. But unfortunately, he has also been responsible for every misstep of late. In Game 3, not only did he miss a three-pointer in the air with 16 seconds remaining, but he turned the ball over on the last play as the Knicks were unable to even attempt a shot.

This is a game where Brunson needs to look like himself from start to finish, not just in detail. Playoff Brunson is a different player. Last year, before the Knicks took on the Pacers, he was one of the best closers in the league, and there’s no reason why that player couldn’t show up in Game 4.

Brunson drops at least 25 and makes the right play when the game is on the line.

Prediction 2: Mikal Bridges struggles again and sees fewer minutes

Bridges had no points in Game 3, going 0-for-3 with one rebound and two assists in 21 minutes. In four-quarter periods in Games 2 and 3, they had zero field goals and six total turnovers.

Mike Brown took him out in the third quarter and kept him on the bench for most of the second half.

Miles McBride got 31 minutes while Bridges only got 21 minutes, and the Knicks were clearly more effective with that smaller lineup. Since Bridges is having trouble in this matchup, it’s hard to imagine Brown falling back on him in heavy moments when McBride is giving him more on the floor.

Prediction: Bridges plays less than 25 minutes again, and McBride handles the bulk of those extra possessions.

Prediction 3: Karl-Anthony Towns posts a double-double and stays on the floor

Towns had 21 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3, and he was certainly the best big man on the floor all night. The issue is that the Knicks are finding it difficult to utilize him in the most important moments; In fact, the final play went to Brunson.

As a small team, the Hawks and Towns demonstrated very clearly what this mismatch will look like when it comes to offense.

The Browns should keep Towns on the court for a full 40 minutes instead of just longer, because with the production from both Towns and Brunson, New York is a completely different team.

If these three things happen, the Knicks may very well win.

Prediction: Towns gets at least 22 points and 11 rebounds, and New York wins 110-102 to tie the series 2-2.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Through three games, atlanta hawks saved by a hair’s breadth new York Knicks As they took their lead in the series to 2-1. There was another nervy situation at the end of Game 3, but the Hawks were able to prevail in the end and win 109–108.

A number of players have been instrumental in the team’s performance in the series, one of them being Jonathan Kuminga and his impact on the bench.

Kuminga had a good performance in Game 3, but some fans are still looking at a small step he made in Game 2, which helped the Hawks steal a lead on the road.

On one of the final possessions where Nickeil Alexander-Walker swiped the ball from Knicks captain Jalen Brunson, Kuminga was seen pushing his teammate toward Brunson in an effort to give him better position.

That strategy may have worked, because the Hawks got the steal and scored on the other end.

Jonathan Kuminga credits Draymond Green for winning strategy against New York Knicks

After the game, Kuminga, who will earn an average annual salary of $23,400,000 in the 2025–26 season, credited Draymond Green for his instincts to make that play.

Speaking to journalist Kevin Chouinard after the matchup, Kuminga praised Green as the source of that strategy.

“I’m going to give my praise to Drummond,” Kuminga said. “Growing up around him and watching him, I’ve seen him do it a lot of times. He’s one of the best at doing it.”

He added, “It’s something I’m not thinking about in the game, but watching someone do it over time, sometimes it just clicks.” “Nickel was still in good shape because he was able to get steals, especially with the way Nickel was playing defense.”

The Hawks sent Kuminga to help Brunson on key defensive possessions in Games 2 and 3.

When Brunson stopped for a turnaround at the end of G2, I asked him about pushing Nickell Alexander-Walker back.

“I’m going to give my compliments to Drummond.” pic.twitter.com/siPxxmWtkJ

– Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) 24 April 2026

Jonathan Kuminga has been around some of the better players who played the game while he was with him Golden State WarriorsAnd it’s no surprise that he adopted defensive tactics from former teammate Green.

This shows that the power forward is a sponge and he is using his experience to help the Hawks get an edge in the matchup against the Knicks, who have been good in the last two games.

Since his first foray into online journalism in 2019, Peter Okereke has written widely on entertainment, politics and pop… More about Peter Okereke

The New York Knicks now face a harsh reality: Decisions made after Game 2 may have directly contributed to their Game 3 heartbreak.

After falling 109-108 to the Atlanta Hawks and down 2-1 in the series, questions are rising over Mike Brown’s rotation options, especially his decision to limit Mitchell Robinson’s role.

Mike Brown, Knicks, and Mitchell Robinson Call

Context matters now more than ever. Mike Brown’s statement regarding the Kat-Mitchell Robinson pairing came before Game 3.

“Combination of [KAT and Mitch] It has not been good, so I am opting not to play them together in this series because of the matchup.

That decision translated directly into the Game 3 rotation. Robinson played only 11 limited minutes and was largely absent in key stretches, especially late in the game, when defensive stops and rebounding were crucial.

Brown defended his team after the game, saying: “I liked the fight our guys showed… We gave ourselves a chance.”

But the stats tell a different story: The Knicks didn’t have a strong enough presence inside the paint when it really counted.

Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Mitchell Robinson Impact

Karl-Anthony ​​​​​​​​​ Towns did his part. He finished the game with 21 points and 17 rebounds, performing consistently on both ends of the floor and gradually helped the Knicks erase the double-digit deficit.

But basketball is not a one-man show. When Mitchell Robinson wasn’t on the floor long enough to lead the defense, the Knicks ran into trouble with second-chance opportunities and rim protection, two things Robinson is very good at.

Atlanta took full advantage of this. Onyeka Okongwu and other players were able to penetrate with greater ease, while guards were also more successful in attacking the paint. The Knicks may technically dominate the paint in terms of numbers, but the Hawks have played better on some very important possessions, especially late rebounds and defensive turnovers.

In such a close game these things can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Under pressure after consecutive defeats

Their anger doesn’t begin and end with losing one game – it’s the entire situation. Two consecutive losses, both in the final minutes, have made the Browns the subject of intense criticism.

Towns clearly acknowledged the issue: “We struggled… but we need to close the game out. We didn’t do that today.”

And this is the main point. The Knicks are fighting, even coming out strong, but their player substitutions and late performance are letting them down.

The decision to limit Robinson may have been a tactical move targeting the match-up, but Game 3 revealed the price.

If being a tough, rebounding, defensive team is part of your identity, not having your best interior player on the field in the final minutes is a big risk.

Currently, this is a risk that is not paying off.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The New York Knicks dominated the game for most of the time. However, the whole situation went awry when we needed it most. The double-digit lead evaporated completely, the Knicks failed in their last few games and were swept by the Hawks in the end.

What was a great opportunity to achieve a big win turned into a very disappointing defeat and an even bigger question mark has arisen in front of New York after this 107-106 defeat on their own court.​

mikal bridges didn’t give enough

Bridges should have been one of the Knicks players to calm things down when the game got tense, but he didn’t do that here. He finished with just 10 points on 3-10 shooting, and he didn’t look like the hungry scorer that New York needed at all.

The problem was not just missed shots but also inaction. In the last game, he took the final shot and missed, which added to the disappointment. A player like Bridges can’t disappear in a situation when the game is on the line.

the knicks bench was cold as ice

The Knicks’ bench was not enough to help lead the team. New York got 13 points from Mitchell Robinson and seven from Jordan Clarkson, but the rest of the bench combined to score zero.

In a playoff game where every point counts, that’s not enough. Atlanta’s bench was able to score a total of 28 points, led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 19 points, and that extra scoring made the difference in the game when the starters began to fade.

Mike Brown needs to change the system, and the Knicks need to take it more seriously

A big lesson from this loss is that the Knicks can no longer rely solely on talent. Their offense sputtered in the fourth quarter, and the stats showed it: New York managed only 15 points in the quarter, shooting 22.7% from the field; Atlanta, on the other hand, scored 28 points and shot 72.2%.

In fact, the game showed that the Hawks consistently found the right moments to score, while the Knicks kept missing their chances. Even missed a few late shots that could have ensured victory. It is not just a matter of ‘bad luck’; This is a problem of the entire system and mentality.

If the style of play is too slow, too predictable, or too relaxed, this team will be victimized in close games.



Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Game 1 gave the New York Knicks a strong early lead in the series, but it also showed that Atlanta could remain in the battle down the stretch. Jalen Brunson started off with sharp scoring, Karl-Anthony Towns took over after halftime, and New York held off the Hawks’ last-ditch effort for a 113–102 victory.

The focus now turns to Madison Square Garden for Game 2 on Monday night, and the Hawks will need a sharp response if they are to avoid a 2-0 loss. Atlanta was competitive for a long time in Game 1, and regular season meetings show that this matchup always looks closer than the scoreboard suggests.

Jalen Brunson exceeds 25 points again

Brunson looks to be the safest scoring bet in this series. He had already scored 28 points in Game 1, and the Knicks relied on him before Towns took over. The big reason to expect another big night is matchup history: Against Atlanta in the regular season, Brunson averaged 29.3 points and 7.8 assists, a sign that the Hawks have struggled to keep him from dictating the pace.

New York’s offense often runs on its ability to create in the half court, and with the series still being tight, the Knicks are likely to keep the ball in their hands when the game slows down.

Karl-Anthony Towns posts double-double

The city is the second biggest problem facing Atlanta. He finished Game 1 with 25 points, and 19 of them came after halftime, showing how dangerous he can be once he gets set. The best part of this prediction is the rebounding angle: Towns has the size and usage to stack the boards, and he averaged 13.5 rebounds in the two regular season meetings against Atlanta, while scoring 28.5 points per game.

This type of production makes a double-double very realistic, especially if the Hawks focus too much on Brunson and leave Towns space to work inside and on the glass.

Hawks fight hard, but lose

Atlanta should not be expected to roll over. The Hawks went 20–6 after the All-Star break to clinch the No. 6 seed, and in Game 1 they got 26 points from CJ McCollum and 23 points from Jalen Johnson to close the gap briefly in the fourth quarter.

That said, New York has already shown it can answer every Hawks run, and the Knicks were also 30-10 at home this season. Game 2 should be more competitive than the final score suggests, but the Knicks still have the deep late-game lead and cleaner star power. Expect Atlanta to make it uncomfortable, then come back short again.

final predictions: Knicks 118, Hawks 112

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The Detroit Pistons suffered a tough 130-129 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in overtime at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, ending their four-game winning streak.

The Pistons had two chances to win on the final possession, but Tobias Harris missed a jumper with 2.9 seconds remaining, while Jalen Duren, who had grabbed the offensive rebound, buried a gimme as time expired.

Courtesy of Harris’ jumper, Detroit overcame a 21-point deficit to send the game into extension. However, the team still ultimately fell short.

Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff praised his return, but also said he couldn’t celebrate the loss, as shown in video posted by Coty Davis of the Detroit News.

“We didn’t like the way we dug into a hole in the first half. But to be able to negotiate at halftime and then come out and play like we played in the third and fourth quarters, credit to those guys,” Bickerstaff said.

“Obviously, we fell a bucket behind. But most teams wouldn’t even get themselves in that position. Most teams don’t have the strength to dig deep, collect themselves, pick themselves up off the mat, and do what our guys did. No moral victory, but I’m proud of our guys’ effort.”

“We didn’t like the way we dug a hole in the first half…no moral victory.”

speak on bickerstaff #piston They are battling a 21-point deficit after the loss to the Hawks. pic.twitter.com/cIbhluHyM5

– Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) 26 March 2026

The Pistons lost for the first time since Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with lung failure.

They have played well even without the two-time All-Star with Duren, Harris, Duncan Robinson, Dennis Jenkins and Aussie Thompson. They all scored in double figures against the Hawks, led by Duren with 26 points.

The Pistons, who fell 52-20, including 28-9 at home, will look to bounce back against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

The Detroit Pistons fell short against the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, suffering a painful 130-129 defeat in overtime.

The Pistons failed to carry the momentum they gained with a 113-110 win at home over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, ending their nine-game winning streak.

The Hawks, on the other hand, won their third straight and moved to 41-32. The Pistons fell 52–20.

Detroit had two chances to steal the game, but Tobias Harris overshot his fallaway jumper from the baseline, while Jalen Duren, who grabbed the offensive rebound, fell short on his quick putback. Duran was in disbelief over the disappearance attempt to close.

Missed Game Winner: #piston Star Jalen Darren missed this wide open shot.

#hawks Came to play tonight and continued the win 15-1#nba pic.twitter.com/egSeReX3Xw

– FirstDownMedia (@FirstDownMediaa) 26 March 2026

Detroit cut the lead to 130–129 with 41.2 seconds left in overtime after Dennis Jenkins’ pull-up jumper. CJ McCollum missed his three-point attempt on the ensuing possession, opening the door for the Pistons. But alas, they couldn’t turn it off.

After finishing a clutch bucket with 9.5 ticks remaining in regulation, Harris sent the game into overtime at 121-121.

Duren had a commendable effort with 26 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Harris contributed 22 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Jenkins continued his strong scoring with 19 points, three rebounds and 10 assists.

The Pistons suffered their first loss since Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung. They were on a four-game winning streak before facing the Hawks.

Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 27 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists, while McCollum had 27 points and five assists.

Detroit returns to action on Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

On Wednesday evening, the Atlanta Hawks will take to the road for a big game against the Detroit Pistons. This injury report includes Jalen Johnson, who is currently listed as questionable due to left shoulder inflammation. Here’s everything we know about Johnson’s injury and his playing status against the Pistons on Wednesday.

Jalen Johnson’s game status against the Pistons

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is currently some doubt as to whether Jalen Johnson will be able to appear in Detroit on Wednesday night. Johnson has missed the last two games for the Hawks due to illness and was seen wearing a sleeve over his left shoulder when he was on the court against the Houston Rockets last week.

Meanwhile, the Pistons have an injury report ahead of this matchup, with Cade Cunningham sidelined due to his collapsed lung, while Isaiah Stewart is also out with a calf strain. Marcus Sasser is questionable with a right hip strain, while Javonte Green is questionable with an ankle sprain.

Overall, the Hawks have been playing some better basketball over the past month, recently going on an 11-game winning streak, and then winning two in a row since that streak was snapped. Many of the wins have come against lesser competition, and even without Cunningham, the Pistons will present a very strong opponent for Atlanta, so they would certainly love to have Johnson back on the field and ready to go.

The Hawks are 0-3 against the Pistons so far this year.

In any case, tipoff between Atlanta and Detroit is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET from the Motor City. This game will be broadcast by ESPN.

The Houston Rockets had every reason to feel down on themselves on Friday night. Not only did they dismantle one of the league’s hottest teams, but they did so with a swagger that showed they knew exactly what was going to happen. After the Rockets ended the Atlanta Hawks’ impressive 11-game winning streak with a decisive 117-95 win, Kevin Durant decided to have a little fun with the media during his postgame availability.

Durant, who has faced considerable scrutiny recently regarding his body language and engagement, walked into the press conference room with a bright smile. Before taking the first question, he looked at the assembled reporters and asked, “How was the body language tonight, was it good? What were the vibes like?” The room immediately erupted with laughter, a clear indication of the various narratives that often follow famous scorers.

Kevin Durant after the Rockets blew out the Hawks and ended their 11-game winning streak.

“What was the body language like tonight, was it nice? What were the vibes like?”

(h/t @AdamJWexler)pic.twitter.com/aEnXi8Mv0I

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 21 March 2026

The atmosphere on the court at Toyota Center was certainly impeccable. Durant led the way with 25 points, but the real story of the night was his ascent into basketball immortality. During the second quarter, Durant officially passed Wilt Chamberlain to move into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

It was a historic moment that served as the perfect backdrop for an impressive team performance. Jabari Smith Jr. was a force of nature all evening, scoring 23 points and nine rebounds, while Alpern Sengun carried the offense with 15 points and 10 assists.

The Atlanta Hawks had no answer to Houston’s defensive intensity. Nickell Alexander-Walker managed to score 21 points, but the Hawks struggled to find rhythm against a Rockets team that forced them to make difficult shots all night. As the Rockets controlled the glass and the pace, Atlanta’s 11-game run came to a screeching halt. With this win, the Houston Rockets proved that they can compete with anyone when their stars align.

Kristaps Porzingis appears to have escaped any major injury after leaving with “lower back soreness” in the second quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ 115-101 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

In the locker room after the game, Porzingis described how the spasms in his lower back worsened as the game progressed in the first half.

“I started feeling it right in the first quarter,” Porzingis said. “I started having a little cramp, [so] I tried to move. As long as I was warm, I was fine, but in that one game, I felt a little cramp down there.

Porzingis was referring to the play when he had a cramp in transition, when he jumped and reached his arm up to intercept Pistons center Paul Reed’s pass. Porzingis noted that he could feel tightness in his back on the plays leading up to that moment, but that specific action was the main trigger. Porzingis would immediately leave the game and not return.

Back injuries are somewhat familiar territory for Porzingis, but he hasn’t dealt with one in some time. Porzingis told reporters that this was something he had experienced earlier in his career, but that it was no longer a major problem after learning how to manage them.

“Honestly, I’m pretty good at managing and keeping my back strong so I’m sure it will heal quickly,” Porzingis told reporters. “It’s a little tight right now. Once I cooled down, it got even tighter. But I’m sure I’ll get it going soon.”

What does Kristaps Porzingis mean moving forward?

Based on Porzingis’ explanation of his back spasms, it doesn’t seem to be of much concern. But considering how much time Porzingis has missed due to various health issues, this is a bad stroke of luck for him and the Warriors. Just as he was starting to piece things together.

Earlier this week, Porzingis scored his season high of 30 points against the Washington Wizards, helping Golden State pick up a much-needed win. And before the Pistons game, he was able to play four of the Warriors’ last five games, logging 20, 22, 26 and 23 minutes in each of those games. The plan was really to start increasing Porzingis’ minutes as his stamina and wind were progressing well.

Porzingis said it’s “probably” unlikely he’ll play in the Warriors’ back-to-back against the Atlanta Hawks, which was already up in the air, given how much the team has erred on the side of caution in those schedule situations.

Thus, the Warriors will have to make do without their notable big man in their reunion with Jonathan Kuminga, who they dealt to the Hawks at the trade deadline. And they’ll try to salvage a road trip that saw them go 1-3 and drop to 33-37 on the season.

The Atlanta Hawks have spent much of the 2025-26 season navigating a landscape of transition and change. Following the historic trade in January that sent franchise icon Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, the team initially struggled to find its footing. However, under the steady hand of Quin Snyder, Atlanta has gone on an impressive ten-game winning streak dating back to late March. They are currently 37-31 and are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Thus, the Hawks are playing their best basketball of the year.

Jalen Johnson has developed into a legitimate All-Star. He’s racking up triple-doubles with terrifying frequency. Meanwhile, Dyson Daniels has closed the perimeter. This recent success has changed the energy in the A’s. However, the front office knows the move from a play-in hopeful to a true contender. They must take advantage of their upcoming draft assets.

missing pieces

Despite the current winning streak, there are still clear areas of improvement on the Hawks roster that the 2026 NBA Draft can address. Young’s departure leaves a huge void in high-level shot creation and long-term backcourt stability. This is especially true given that McCallum is serving as an experienced bridge forward. Atlanta needs a dynamic perimeter threat who can facilitate and score at all three levels to complement Johnson’s point-forward talents.

Additionally, while Onyeka Okongwu remains a defensive stalwart, the team could benefit from more elite wing depth. They may also be looking for a versatile forward who can provide both floor spacing and defensive switchability. Onsi Saleh and the scouting department aimed to find a high-impact talent who would fit the modern, versatile identity Snyder was building. They need a player who can thrive in a fast-paced, high-assist system that currently leads the NBA in points per game.

Darrin Peterson, Kansas

If the Hawks are looking for a key backcourt successor, look no further than Kansas guard Darrin Peterson. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall, Peterson is considered one of the most talented guard players to enter the draft in the last few years. He compares highly with some of the league’s most elite three-point scorers. Despite dealing with minor hamstring problems early in the season, his performance for the fourth-seeded Jayhawks has not been stellar. He has an innate ability to reach his spots, using picturesque footwork and devastating changes of pace to leave defenders in the thrashings.

For Atlanta, Pettersson’s ability to knock down a high volume of threes and manipulate defenses with the pick-and-roll would be a perfect fit. Watching him go through the pressure of the East Region will reveal if he has the mental toughness to lead a backcourt at the next level.

AJ DiBantsa, BYU

Certainly, the Hawks have found a star in Johnson. However, adding a jumbo wing like BYU’s AJ Dybantsa could create one of the most dangerous forward tandems in the Eastern Conference. Dyabantsa is a 6-foot-9 scoring machine with a 7-foot wingspan and athleticism that almost seems inappropriate. He has spent this season lighting up the scoreboard. This included multiple 40-point outbursts that solidified his status as the potential number-one overall pick. His offensive range is also astronomical. He can easily pull up from mid-range or use his elastic body type to acrobatically finish at the rim.

Yes, critics have pointed to his defensive consistency. Still, the physical tools for a lockdown appearance are in place under Snyder’s tutelage. If DiBantsa can lead the Cougars on a deep run, he could force the Hawks to do whatever it takes to get on the board.

Cameron Boozer, Duke

For those who value a high-floor prospect with an unmatched win history, Duke’s Cameron Boozer is the perfect name. At 6 foot 10 inches and 250 pounds, Boozer has been the driving force behind the Blue Devils receiving the number one overall seed in the tournament. He’s a rare prospect who combines elite physicality with warp-speed basketball IQ. Boozer can process the floor like a ten year veteran. His inside-outside scoring versatility and magnetic hands on the glass make him a double-double threat every night.

For the Hawks, he represents a plug-and-play asset who makes an impact on wins through elite rebounding, pinpoint outlet passing and under-rated defensive versatility. As he leads Duke into the battle for the East Region, scouts will want to see how his strength and skill-set work against some of the most athletic giants in the country. Adding a player of Boozer’s maturity would immediately stabilize Atlanta’s frontcourt for the next decade.

seize the moment

There are whispers about the 2026 draft class in the same manner as those about the famous 2003 group. Now, March Madness is the ultimate proving ground for these future stars. For the Hawks, the tournament represents a live-action scouting report for the pieces that will define their future. Whether it’s Peterson’s excellent shot-making, DiBantsa’s raw athletic ceiling, or Boozer’s disciplined dominance, the talent available is transformative.

The Hawks have shown they can win now. However, to win big they will have to choose wisely when the clock is ticking. As these prospects take the floor under the bright lights, the path back to the top of the Eastern Conference becomes clearer with every bucket and every defensive stop.

The Atlanta Hawks are arguably one of the hottest teams in the league as they are on a nine-game winning streak, and they are trying to make it 10 games against the Orlando Magic. This trend began when C.J. McCollum was inserted into the starting lineup for Zachary Rishachar, as statistics showed that the Hawks were a better team when he played with the other four starters of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.

Those stats are still proving true, and it doesn’t look like McCollum will be going back to the bench any time soon. After his win against the Milwaukee Bucks, McCollum was asked if he would like to be the starter.

“For me, this is what the team needs,” McCullum told reporters. “I think the money comes on time every two weeks, regardless. That’s always helpful, but historically, I’ve been a starter, but I’m comfortable filling whatever role is necessary for us as long as we’re competing for something. That’s what’s really important to me: winning basketball and competing for something right now. That’s what they want me to do, and when your boss tells you something, you’ve got to do that.”

McCallum’s move into the starting lineup hasn’t affected the way the Hawks play, and if anything, it’s made them better. Jalen Johnson has been able to continue producing at a high level with McCollum in the lineup.

“Some of the lineups may look different, but CJ has been a great vet and he understands the game at a high level,” Johnson said. “So having him on the court with us, he just shows us little signs and things where we can be effective, and I think he’s done a great job leading our group.”

The Hawks needed a vet like McCallum on their team, as they were one of the younger teams in the league when the season began. McCollum has made big shots in postseason basketball and played with some of the game’s stars. His presence will only make the Hawks better, especially at this point in the season.

The Hawks are currently trying to climb the Eastern Conference standings, but despite their winning streak they haven’t made much of a splash. At this point, all they can do is control what they can and hope that the teams above them start falling away.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status remains uncertain as the Milwaukee Bucks prepare for a road matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday afternoon. The Bucks (27-38) listed the former MVP as questionable on their latest injury report due to management of a right calf injury prior to tip-off at 3:00 PM ET at State Farm Arena.

UPDATE: Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out of Saturday’s game with an ankle sprain.

Milwaukee continues to monitor Antetokounmpo’s workload as the team goes through a difficult stretch of the season. The 31-year-old last played Thursday night in a 112-105 loss to the Miami Heat, and delivered another strong performance despite the loss. Antetokounmpo recorded 31 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block while shooting 12 of 24 from the field and 7 of 11 from the free-throw line in 29 minutes.

Through 35 games this season, Antetokounmpo has remained the centerpiece of Milwaukee’s offense. He averaged 27.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and one steal per game, while shooting an efficient 62.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range in 29 minutes per contest.

Milwaukee enters Saturday’s contest looking to snap a three-game losing streak as the team attempts to regain the lead in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks’ injury report also includes several other players whose availability remains uncertain.

Bucks await injury update on Giannis Antetokounmpo as Hawks have won eight straight games

Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable due to management of a right calf injury. Ousmane Dieng is also questionable while dealing with an illness. Kevin Porter Jr. is listed as questionable with right knee synovitis. Alex Antetokounmpo and Cormac Ryan have both been listed as part of their G League two-way assignments.

Atlanta is entering the matchup with momentum on its side. The Hawks (35-31) currently have the longest active winning streak in the NBA, having won eight consecutive games prior to Saturday’s contest. The surge has helped Atlanta climb the Eastern Conference standings, solidifying its playoff position.

With Antetokounmpo’s status still uncertain, Milwaukee could face a tough challenge against one of the hottest teams in the league. The Bucks will likely make a final decision on his availability closer to game time after additional evaluation of his calf condition.

Saturday’s game concludes a brief two-game road trip for Milwaukee. The team will return to Fiserv Forum to host the Indiana Pacers (15-52) on Sunday at 3:30 PM ET, as the Bucks attempt to stabilize their season during the closing period.

Thursday’s 108-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks felt like a turning point for the Brooklyn Nets’ tanking efforts. With Igor Demin and Deron Sharp recently shut down for the season, the Nets ruled out Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Nolan Traore (rest) and Ziaire Williams (illness) for the matchup.

When that wasn’t enough, he took matters into his own hands during the game.

Despite taking an 83–82 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Nets did not play their top two available players, Nick Claxton or Noah Clowney, for the entire final period. They even benched Josh Minot, who scored a season-high 24 points. Brooklyn’s closing lineup included two rookies and three two-way players: Tyson Etienne, Ben Saraf, Drake Powell, EJ Liddell and Cheney Johnson.

As the game progressed, it became clear that the Nets would not allow themselves to win. They’ll have to take measures like these if they hope to come out on top in a historic tank race.

Nets increase readiness for tanking during tough loss to Hawks

Brooklyn’s aggressive tank maneuvers on Thursday were followed by consecutive wins over the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and Monday. Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez rode a veteran-heavy rotation to a 23-point comeback in Detroit, playing Michael Porter Jr. 39 minutes and benching rookies Ben Saraf and Traore. Despite the Grizzlies’ eight highest-paid players being sidelined on Monday, Brooklyn played most of its rotation and won 126–115.

However, Thursday’s loss signaled a philosophical shift in line with other tanking teams. For much of this season, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and others have made extreme efforts to maximize their draft lottery odds, and for good reason.

The 2026 draft is one of the most talented in the last several decades, with three franchise-altering prospects – Darin Peterson, AJ DiBunsta and Cam Boozer – at the top.

These are the types of players the Nets had their eye on when they paid a hefty price to re-acquire 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets during the 2024 offseason. However, Brooklyn went soft last season, finishing with the NBA’s sixth-worst record and falling to the eighth pick in the draft, a mistake a rebuilding team cannot afford to make twice.

Nets owner Joe Tsai acknowledged this long before the season.

“We have a selection in 2026, and we hope to get a good selection. So you can guess what kind of strategy we will use for this season,” Tsai said.

The Nets still have an opportunity to put themselves in the optimal position to clinch the top spot. They have only one more win than the Wizards and Sacramento Kings, who are second and third, respectively, in the lottery standings, and two more than the Pacers, who are in the top spot. Brooklyn’s remaining schedule includes a matchup with Sacramento and meetings with Indiana and Washington.

Rotations like Thursday’s should become common for the Nets in the final month of the season. The potential gains this summer are worth it.

The Atlanta Hawks have had an up and down season. They were believed to be a promising team in the Eastern Conference, plagued by injuries to key stars from contenders around the conference. Additionally, their 2025 offseason moves made by general manager Onsi Saleh had fans and prognosticators alike interested in what the Hawks could become in this wide-open Eastern Conference. But with the Hawks facing a slump due to injuries and an unfortunate trade, fans are clamoring for a 2026 offseason, and the value of the Pelicans/Bucks pick swap is highly anticipated.

But it appears as if the Hawks have turned the corner. At the time of this writing, they are on a seven-game winning streak and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are just three games behind the Miami Heat, who are currently in the six-seed in the playoff standings, with Toronto and Philadelphia one and two games ahead of them, respectively.

The ideal seeding situation for the Hawks is to get the number six seed. It’s realistic, and they’ve been on a roll since the end of the All-Star break. Finishing sixth takes them out of the play-ins for the first time in months. The Hawks have been a mainstay in the play-ins over the past few seasons since making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but they failed to make the playoffs last season after losing to the Miami Heat.

It would be a huge accomplishment for the Hawks to clinch the six-seed and put them in position to potentially pull an upset in the first round, which would garner fan support for the direction of the team. hawks nation was Disappointed Via Trae Young’s trade. But the preseason could help mend fans’ broken hearts

If the season ended today and the Hawks found a way to dethrone the No. 6 seed Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference, they would face the New York Knicks. The Knicks have been a consistent team this season, even winning the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup. But out of the top six current teams, they arguably have the biggest weaknesses that the Hawks can exploit to pull off a big playoff-series win.

While Karl-Anthony Towns is a phenomenal player, he is often inconsistent. With how heavy the Hawks are, I believe they can compete well with the Knicks in a seven-game series. And while Trae Young, who saw his star rise following the Hawks’ five-game defeat of the Knicks in the 2021 playoffs, is no longer with the team, Jalen Johnson could prove to be a thorn in the Knicks’ side. Johnson’s propensity to drive to the basket and his explosiveness could be a good fit for the small-ball lineups that Mike Brown likes to employ, and I think there is no defender on the Knicks outside of OG Anunoby who can really stay one-on-one with him.

Should the Hawks find a way to defeat the Knicks in the first round in this scenario, they would then face the Boston Celtics. Now, the Hawks have seen the Celtics in the playoffs before, ultimately losing 4-2 in 2023. So far, the Hawks have split the season series with the Celtics, with the Celtics defeating them 132–106 on January 17 and the Hawks getting their revenge on January 28, 117–106. Now that the Hawks are hitting form, two matchups between the Hawks and Celtics in late March could be a preview of how the teams will match up in the playoffs.

Jayson Tatum is back in the lineup, but he’s still not quite 100%. While the Celtics were smart to get him back into the rotation ahead of their playoff run, it’s unknown if he’ll actually get back to his pre-Achilles playing style any time soon. While Jaylen Brown has emerged as a phenomenal player and is even in the running for NBA MVP, the Hawks can certainly match the Celtics’ superior three-point shooting ability with a mix of savvy defense and athleticism. While they likely won’t win a series against the Celtics, having a good matchup against them could be a good sign for Quin Snyder and Atlanta, giving them the building blocks for more success in an important offseason.

The Hawks certainly aren’t championship contenders, but they have a chance to pick up a small win that could help them reign among the top teams in the NBA over the next few seasons. But that scenario hinges on the Hawks climbing out of the play-in picture and officially securing one of the top six seeds in the East for the first time in five years.

The Atlanta Hawks are currently on a seven-game winning streak, and they are planning to make it eight when they face off against the Brooklyn Nets. It was the win against the Nets that started their streak, and hopefully they can continue it as they try to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

Jonathan Kuminga was able to contribute to wins in some games, but he missed the last three games due to injury. The injury report initially listed him with left knee soreness, but the Hawks recently changed it to a left knee bone bruise, which sidelined him when he was traded.

Here is Kuminga’s position before the game.

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Jonathan Kuminga’s injury status vs. Nets

Kuminga is listed as questionable against the Nets, meaning he is likely to play. Additionally, he has been listed as questionable for the last three matches and has been subbed out an hour and a half before each game. It is uncertain how serious the injury is, but it is something that has been bothering him for some time and is affecting his ability to step on the court.

The Hawks were able to see what Kuminga can do when he’s on the field, and he showed a little bit of everything in the three games he played. There is no doubt that Kuminga can be a big contributor for the team, especially during this time of the season, and they are hoping he returns soon.

It would also be nice to see more from him on the front office side of the Hawks so they can determine if they want to accept his option when the season ends so he can come back next year.

The Brooklyn Nets will be shorthanded for the second consecutive game when they travel to face the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The Nets ruled Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Deron Sharp (left thumb sprain) and Nolan Traore (rest) out for the matchup. Ziare Williams (illness) is questionable.

The Nets recently shut down breakout rookie Igor Demin for the season due to a plantar fascia injury. The lengthy injury report comes after Sharp and Williams missed Tuesday’s 138-100 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Brooklyn benched veteran Terrence Mann during the game, playing recent two-way signing Chanie Johnson and trade acquisition Josh Minot in extended minutes.

These rotation changes were followed by consecutive wins over the Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, causing the Nets to lose significant ground in the NBA’s tank race.

Nets rule out several starters for Hawks matchup after back-to-back wins

Brooklyn was tied with the Indiana Pacers for second place in the draft lottery standings and within striking distance of the first-place Sacramento Kings last week. However, the Nets rode a veteran-heavy rotation to take on the Pistons on Saturday. They then played most of their rotation against the Grizzlies, which were without their eight highest-paid players, and led the way to a win on Monday.

The pair of wins dropped Brooklyn to fourth place in the lottery standings. Jordi Fernandez’s team has one more win than the second- and third-place Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards, respectively, and two more wins than the first-place Pacers.

Despite their recent wins, the Nets control their own destiny in the draft lottery race. Brooklyn’s remaining schedule includes two matchups with the Kings, as well as meetings with the Pacers and Wizards.

A loss in those games would allow the Nets to climb into the top spot in the odds for May’s draft lottery.

The Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks will play on Tuesday night. However, Jonathan Kuminga is listed on the injury report, so is he playing tonight?

Kuminga is struggling with a knee injury. Atlanta is monitoring the situation closely. Everything we know about Kuminga’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Mavs.

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Jonathan Kuminga’s injury status vs. Mavericks

According to the NBA injury report, Kuminga is currently questionable against the Mavs due to a left kneecap injury.

The 33-31 Hawks are making a push for the postseason. They still have a playoff spot, as Atlanta sits ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. As for the Mavericks, Dallas is 12th in the Western Conference at 21-43.

The Hawks should have a good chance to win at home on Tuesday night, but having Kuminga available will help their situation. As far as the question of whether Jonathan Kuminga is playing tonight against the Mavericks, the answer is probably.

hawks injury report

The Hawks have four players listed on the injury report.

• Jonathan Kuminga (left kneecap injury): doubtful
• Asa Newell (G League on assignment): Questionable
• Keyshawn Gilbert (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Raze Dennis (G League Two-Way): Out

mavericks injury report

The Mavs have five players listed on the injury report.

• Moussa Cisse (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• John Poulakidas (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Tyler Smith (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery): Out
• Derek Lively II (right foot surgery): Out

The Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers will play on Saturday night, however, Jonathan Kuminga is listed on the injury report. So, is Kuminga playing tonight against the 76ers?

Kuminga has battled injuries this season, but recently made his debut with the Hawks. Overall, he has played three games with Atlanta since transferring from the Golden State Warriors to the Hawks before the deadline in February.

Everything we know about Jonathan Kuminga’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the 76ers.

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Jonathan Kuminga’s injury status vs. 76ers

According to the NBA injury report, Kuminga is listed as questionable due to left knee inflammation.

The 32-31 Hawks are ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, while the 76ers are 34-28 and in sixth place in the conference. Saturday night’s matchup should be a competitive affair between the Eastern Conference teams. Kuminga’s final injury status will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.

As far as the question of whether Jonathan Kuminga is playing tonight against the 76ers, the answer is probably.

hawks injury report

The Hawks have four players listed on the injury report.

• Jonathan Kuminga (left knee inflammation): doubtful
• Raze Dennis (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Keyshawn Gilbert (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Asa Newell (G League on assignment): Questionable

76ers injury report

The 76ers have five players listed on the injury report.

• Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee injury recovery brace): Available
• VJ Edgecombe (lumbar injury): doubtful
• Joel Embiid (right oblique strain): out
• Jonny Broom (recovering from right knee surgery): Out
• Paul George (League suspension): Out

The Washington Wizards are set to host the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Is Trae Young going to make his Wizards debut tonight?

Young was transferred from the Atlanta Hawks to the Wizards before the 2026 trade deadline. However, he has yet to make his debut with Washington, as the All-Star guard is dealing with a knee injury that has kept him out of action since late December.

Here’s everything we know about Trae Young’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Jazz.

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Trae Young’s injury status vs. Jazz

Trae Young is not listed on the NBA injury report and is expected to make his Wizards debut tonight against the Jazz.

The Wizards hope Young and Anthony Davis can lead the team to a postseason run next year. Although Davis is still out due to injury, the next few weeks of the 2025–26 season will give Young a chance to get comfortable with his new team.

At 16-45 and 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, Washington is not going to contend this year. Still, the future is interesting for magicians.

When it comes to the question of whether Trae Young is playing tonight against the Jazz, the answer is yes.

magicians injury report

The Wizards have eight players listed on the injury report.

• Anthony Gill (illness): doubtful
• Anthony Davis (sprained left finger): Out
• Kishawn George (left elbow sprain): Out
• D’Angelo Russell (not with team): Out
• Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain): Out
• Tristan Vukcevic (left thigh injury): Out
• Jameer Watkins (sprained left ankle): Out
• Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis): out

The Jazz played a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, which they lost 106–102. With Thursday’s contest representing the second consecutive contest for Utah, the Jazz have not released their injury report as of the writing of this story.

The Milwaukee Bucks face the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night and Giannis Antetokounmpo is once again at the center of the injury report discussion. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is not listed on the Bucks’ injury report ahead of Milwaukee’s matchup with the Hawks at Fiserv Forum. It puts the Bucks’ franchise star firmly in focus as Milwaukee looks to end a three-game losing streak and regain momentum in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Bucks enter the matchup at 26-34, No. 11 in the East. Meanwhile, the Hawks are 31-31, 10th in the conference and looking to continue a four-game winning streak. Milwaukee is currently out of the play-in picture and faces a difficult path back to contention in the Eastern Conference. With both teams battling for spots at the end of the season, Antetokounmpo’s availability is big.

Giannis continues to be the Bucks’ offensive engine whenever he is on the floor. Through 31 games this season, he is averaging 27.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 63.6 percent from the field. He’s also converting 37.5 percent from three-point range and 65.9 percent from the free-throw line. Additionally, the two-time MVP contributed 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, continuing to make an impact on both ends of the floor.

When Antetokounmpo plays, the Bucks operate with force and structure. His downhill pressure breaks down defenses and creates open looks for teammates across the perimeter.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury Status vs. Hawks

Several additional names are included on the Bucks’ injury report. Alex Antetokounmpo and Cormac Ryan are out on a two-way deal, while Taurean Prince is sidelined after neck surgery.

As for Atlanta, the Hawks injury report lists Raze Dennis and Asa Newell as questionable while on G League assignment.

Still, Antetokounmpo’s presence matters most. Atlanta will look to continue its winning streak and strengthen its position in the play-in race. Meanwhile, Milwaukee is hoping its superstar can help reverse a recent decline.

So when it comes to the question of whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing tonight against the Hawks, the answer currently leans towards yes, as he does not appear to be on the injury report.

Richard Jefferson took a stance on San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet by criticizing the Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City promotional night on March 16.

Cornette wrote a letter objecting to the Hawks hosting ‘Magic City’ Night. Jefferson agrees with Cornette, but for his own personal reasons, and mostly the way he wants to raise his children, he says, he wouldn’t want them to see them at NBA games.

“I’m going to take Luke Kornet’s side. Magic City, everyone has the ability to do whatever they choose. Spend their money how they want, but the NBA, the brand, the logo. Let’s just say, I think the NBA can partner with whoever they choose, but I understand what Luke Kornet is saying. Especially in a very delicate time. You talk about women’s rights, but also women’s rights to do that. Have potential,” Jefferson said at the 23:11 mark on the road. Trippin’ Podcast.

“To look at it and say, hey we want to do it, but there will be kids at the game. These are things that I love, I’m taking my kids, my nine and eleven-year-olds, this is not what I want to present to my kids, that’s just me.”

What’s next for the Hawks amid Luke Kornet’s comments?

Richard Jefferson and Luke Cornett Hawks may have their own reservations about the Magic City celebration. It’s time to realize what Atlanta can do for this event, but the recent attention will provide plenty of scrutiny before the competition takes place.

Atlanta has a 31–31 record on the season, tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 0.5 games ahead of the Charlotte Hornets and four games behind the Milwaukee Bucks while trailing the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic by 1.5 games.

Coming off four consecutive wins, the Hawks will be looking forward to their next contest. They are on the road when they face the Bucks on March 4th at 9:30 PM ET.

The NBA’s 2025-26 season has been surrounded by controversy, from one hot-button topic to the next, including the latest in which San Antonio Spurs veteran Luke Kornet condemned the Atlanta Hawks’ upcoming “Magic City Night” promotion. Cornette doubled down on his criticism of the Hawks’ plans, leading to an open letter asking the NBA to intervene in Atlanta’s scheduled promotion for their upcoming home game on March 16 against the Orlando Magic.

Cornette says the Hawks honoring a strip club by calling it “the city’s iconic cultural institution” is inconsistent with the values ​​of all NBA players, and the association should not have approved it.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his personal blog. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.

“Allowing this night to proceed without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, especially given our society’s complicity with the potential objectification and abuse of women. Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in the field experience abuse, harassment and violence to which they should never have been subjected.”

For the NBA, a league already mired in ethics concerns tied to its enthusiastic support of sports gambling, Cornette’s points are valid, given the negative connotations associated with the adult entertainment business. While the association’s effort to embrace the culture of the area, the Magic City, has been considered one of the foundations of Atlanta’s hip-hop music scene for the past two decades, the Hawks may have gone too far with their latest promotion.

Kornet’s latest campaign adds up to a difficult season for the NBA, given that the league has bigger issues to deal with technically. After Jonte Porter was banned from the NBA for life in April 2024 for violating league gambling policies, Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was arrested in connection with an illegal gambling scheme.

Former Portland Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was also named in the federal investigation, which involved sports betting and rigged, high-stakes poker games. Former Detroit Pistons forward Malik Beasley was at the center of a separate investigation for alleged improper gambling on games during the 2023-24 season.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has generally been open to thinking outside the box, which has inspired league front offices to do the same in order to rebuild their rosters and compete for championships. Teams deliberately sitting their best players to increase their chances of receiving a high selection in the upcoming draft has emerged as one of the most controversial topics in sports.

The NBA has considered taking intense measures in response to teams intentionally sitting their players to improve their chances of losing. Changes included expanding the lottery to include all play-in tournament teams, determining lottery odds based on team performance over two years, and freezing draft lottery odds at the time limit to discourage intentional losing at the end of the regular season.

Luke Cornet addresses open letter ahead of Spurs matchup

Spurs veteran center Luke Kornet knows it’s rare for an NBA player to speak out about the Hawks’ promotion. Nevertheless, Cornette feels passionately about the topic and has not backed down since his initial blog post.

Cornette was forced to do so after learning of the Hawks’ “Magic City Night” promotion a week earlier. To declarehe said, according to ABC 6’s Jason Dumas.

“I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of other N.B.A. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that part of the discussion is expressed. It comes with people like criticism and things like that – that’s part of the process as to why people are hesitant to do it, but I think really trying to start and enable conversation,” Cornet said during the Spurs shootaround on Tuesday.

“It’s important to help make sure that everyone in the league is willing to be represented, and there’s an environment that you want.”

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

The Cornets have reached the league, but no changes have been made regarding the upcoming event. When asked by a reporter if he had spoken to anyone from the Hawks organization, he said, no.

Still, it’s another bad look for the NBA amid a season filled with bad publicity, ranging from allegations that the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to sports gambling investigations to issues stemming from teams intentionally tanking; It feels like one issue after another is coming to the fore during the 2025-26 campaign.

As the San Antonio Spurs (43-17) prepare to conclude their five-game Eastern Conference road trip with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers (33-27) on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, center Luke Cornette reiterated his criticism of the Atlanta Hawks’ association with the Magic City.

Cornette addressed the controversy while speaking with Jason Dumas of Action News on 6abc following Tuesday’s shooting. His comments come a day after he publicly objected to the Hawks’ planned “Magic City Night” promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic.

“I actually saw the statement just last week, the Hawks’ announcement and as far as the point that you have the public voice, I feel like it doesn’t really represent what I know about myself and a lot of others in the NBA. [players] thought. So, I just want to make sure that that part of the discussion is expressed and that it includes criticizing people and things like that – that’s part of the process that white people may be hesitant to do but I think really trying to start a conversation and be able to do that.

He continued:

“It’s important to help make sure everyone in the league is ready to be represented and has an environment like you want.”

Cornette’s renewed comments follow backlash after he first expressed concerns about the Hawks’ partnership. On Monday, he elaborated in a post on Medium, where he directly called on the organization to cancel the event.

Luke Cornette caused some stir nationally when he urged the Atlanta Hawks to cancel “Magic City Night”, saying it was disrespectful to women.

I asked him about it after the shooting in Philly. Says he has not spoken to the league since his statement. pic.twitter.com/eTwFuZGAGQ

-Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) 3 March 2026

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night collaboration celebrating the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. “In their press release, Hawks failed to acknowledge that this location is, as the business itself claims, ‘Atlanta’s premiere strip club.’ Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Luke Kornet says NBA, Hawks haven’t contacted him amid Magic City controversy

Asked whether the league moved forward after his initial statement, Cornette said:

“Not really after that. I talked to a few people in the league first, just to see what the status of it was, to make sure it was up to date on the situation.”

He said the Hawks have not contacted him.

“No, I didn’t.”

The Hawks’ collaboration has attracted widespread attention, including public support from former guard Lou Williams. While Atlanta has not indicated any changes to its plans, Cornette’s comments add another layer to the broader conversation surrounding the event.

San Antonio will now turn their attention back to the court as they prepare to face Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and look to bounce back from a 114-89 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Recently, San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Cornette made headlines when he took to his blog to speak out against the Atlanta Hawks’ recently announced partnership with adult entertainment venue Magic City for an upcoming game. Now, Golden State Warriors big man and Kornet’s former Boston Celtics teammate, Al Horford, has weighed in on the conversation.

“Luke is right,” Horford, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

“The NBA must be willing to protect and respect women, many of whom work diligently every day to make it the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote in his blog post. “We must foster an environment that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.”

Horford was a member of the Atlanta Hawks when they hosted the Tinder “Swipe Right” during the 2015 season, which marked the beginning of a brand partnership for the team that many might not have expected from an NBA organization.

So far, there is no indication that the NBA or the Hawks will come forward and follow Kornet’s advice by discontinuing the promotion, which is scheduled for a home game against the Orlando Magic later this month.

The Hawks have advertised Magic City sweatshirts as part of the celebration, and ticket sales for the game skyrocketed as a result of the announcement.

Cornette’s blog post sparked a widespread discussion on social media about the adult entertainment industry as a whole and whether or not family-friendly organizations like the NBA should be associated with it.

Meanwhile, some have called on Cornette to raise the issue but not speak out about the NBA’s partnerships with gambling companies and other equally less savory organizations.

It remains to be seen whether anything will happen as a result of Cornette’s requests.

The Atlanta Hawks caused quite a surprise when they announced plans to host a Magic City themed promotion during one of their home games. Magic City is a famous strip club located in Atlanta that regularly attracts celebrity visitors. But not everyone is in favor of the Hawks’ promotion, including San Antonio Spurs big man Luke Kornet.

Luke Cornett, who runs a public online blog while playing for the Spurs, wrote a new post this week explaining his reasoning for why he thinks the Hawks should cancel their Magic City promotion night.

“This week, the Atlanta Hawks announced a special one-night-only collaboration to celebrate the city’s iconic cultural institution Magic City during the team’s home games against the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16,” Cornett wrote. Given this fact, I would respectfully ask that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City.

Cornette explained the potential dangers of working in such an industry, and suggested that the Magic City was not the type of family-friendly business the NBA should be promoting.

The Hawks’ Promotional Night is currently scheduled for March 16 during the team’s home game against the Orlando Magic. Ticket sales for the game have reportedly increased, and the team has already begun selling promotional merchandise.

While Cornette may be against the idea, there are others, like former NBA player Lou Williams, who expressed his support for the effort.

On Sunday evening, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in search of their fourth consecutive win. Jalen Johnson is on the injury report, currently listed as questionable due to left hip flexor irritation. Here’s everything we know about Johnson’s injury and his playing status against the Blazers.

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Jalen Johnson’s playing status against the Blazers on Sunday

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is some doubt at the moment as to whether Jalen Johnson will be able to suit up for the Hawks on Sunday evening. Johnson suffered a hip flexor injury during a recent game against the Washington Wizards, causing him to leave in the first half and not return, then was ruled out of Atlanta’s next game, also against the Wizards.

The injury report joins Johnson at shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is questionable with a left foot sprain and missed Atlanta’s last game against Washington. Rookie Asa Newell is questionable, as he is on assignment in the G League.

The Trail Blazers have not yet released their injury report, as they are on the road for the second straight night after losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon.

As mentioned earlier, the Hawks will be looking to pick up their fourth consecutive win in this matchup, although that streak has not come against the best competition, with Atlanta beating the Wizards twice and the Brooklyn Nets twice.

However, for a team that is desperate to get back to the .500 mark, the Hawks will win out no matter what.

If Johnson is unable to go, expect another big game from Jonathan Kuminga, who has impressed in his first two games in a Hawks uniform so far.

The Hawks and Blazers are set to tip off at 6:00 PM ET.

The start of the 2025-26 season was anything but steady for Atlanta Hawks guard Rayjay Dennis. After starting the year with the Indiana Pacers, he was waived in late November when the team signed Ethan Thompson. Soon after, he was picked up by the LA Clippers. He spent about a month with the Clippers before being waived. Shortly after his release, he signed a two-way contract with the Hawks.

Raze Dennis has been playing for the Hawks on his two-way contract for almost two months, his longest period of stability this season. Although the season got off to a quiet start, Dennis had an unwavering belief in himself that kept him focused on achieving his NBA dream.

“I’m living a dream, so it’s always a blessing,” Dennis tells ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. “I’ve been able to be on two-way contracts, so I’m very blessed and just trying to take it day by day and get better. Honestly, I’m just grateful. Grateful for the opportunity at Indiana, grateful for the quick stint with the Clippers and grateful that Atlanta is believing in me.”

Dennis’ debut in the NBA came before last season when he signed with the Clippers. He used strong performances in the summer league to earn an invitation to training camp, but was released just days after camp began. He joined the Washington Wizards on a two-way contract, but was waived before the start of the regular season.

His first official stint on an NBA regular season roster did not come to fruition until January 2025 when the Pacers signed him to a two-way contract. Dennis was putting up numbers for the Clippers’ San Diego affiliate in the G League, and the Pacers added him for backcourt depth.

Dennis played a total of 11 matches for the Pacers last season. Although his time with the team was ultimately cut short, he was able to pick up important habits in terms of finding success in the NBA amid the Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals.

“I think it’s the little things,” Dennis said. “It’s the little things, I think it’s confidence and I think the camaraderie of our team was really good. Obviously we had the talent, the horses to do it, but I think those three things were extremely important to success.”

Raze Dennis is developing games with Hawks

Since signing a two-way contract with the Hawks, Dennis has appeared in only one game with the team. It was a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in which he logged a little over four minutes and finished with four assists. He may have gone scoreless, but the playmaking aspect of his game is what will ultimately get him NBA minutes.

Amid the Pacers’ injury problems at the start of the season, Dennis was appointed to immediate duty. He responded with games of six, five, five and five assists in his first four games of the year, respectively. In each of these games he played more than 25 minutes. Fine-tuning those playmaking reps starts to slow the game down.

Dennis said, “I think the biggest thing for me is that the game is getting a little slower every day. Day by day it’s getting slower, it’s getting a little easier to read.” “It’s about reads, making the right reads, being fast, making shots and staying out of foul trouble.”

In addition to learning how to be a ball-handling guard in the NBA, Dennis will have to get used to the constant shuffling that is part of the nature of a two-way contract. He is limited in terms of the number of NBA games he can play in. Since signing with the Hawks, he has spent a good portion of the season with their affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.

Dennis has appeared in 21 games with College Park so far, averaging a little over 37 minutes per game. He is averaging 24.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 2.5 steals, while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from the 3-point line and 76 percent from the free-throw line.

Whether it’s with the Hawks or College Park, the key to staying prepared and focused is to understand that this is an opportunity to take advantage of regardless of the situation.

“The G League is where you get two-way reps as you move up,” Dennis said. “There are some guys who have been playing a lot as a two-way this year. Normally, you don’t play a ton, you don’t really know your routine and rhythm. G is where you get all your reps. You get to work on whatever you’re working on. I’m thankful for G.”

The Hawks have about 20 games remaining in the regular season. If they reach the postseason, Dennis would not be able to play because his two-way contract would make him ineligible for the playoffs.

Dennis has yet to appear in meaningful minutes for the Hawks save for the only game against the Celtics in January, but he is confident that if his number is called, he will be able to make an impact.

“I think I can be a true point guard,” Dennis said. “I think I can spark an energy, I think just somebody that can contribute to wins and do everything. Just be a point guard. I think I can be a high level point guard and I’m excited to show that one day.

There are conflicts at the end of the game, and then a complete meltdown. The Brooklyn Nets fell into the latter category during Sunday’s 115-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Jordi Fernandez’s team looked in control after taking a 102-91 lead with eight minutes remaining. The Hawks defeated the Nets 24–2 to end the game during their worst collapse of the season.

Brooklyn shot 1 of 15 from the field with five turnovers during the decisive period of the game.

“Unacceptable,” Fernandez said. “We played well, a very good brand of basketball, staying connected, defending, taking the lead as a team with the first and second groups… but we have to find a better way to close out games. I have confidence in the starters. I know how good they are, and that’s not what I want from them. We played a very good game until 5:30, and then it goes away. So, it’s tough because wins matter in the NBA. You have to compete and play to win. “It happens, and it didn’t happen.”

After a solid start, Brooklyn’s rookie backcourt of Nolan Traore and Egor Demin has struggled. However, Sunday’s collapse highlighted the late-game shortcomings of Michael Porter Jr. as the Nets’ No. 1 option.

Michael Porter Jr. disappeared during Nets vs. Hawks horror collapse

Porter posted 18 points on 8 of 16 shooting with six assists and two turnovers in three quarters. However, he was invisible in the final frame, going scoreless on 0-of-3 shooting with no assists as rookies Demin and Traoré handled most of Brooklyn’s on-ball responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Hawks star Jalen Johnson took the lead down the stretch, scoring 14 of his 26 points in the final frame on 6-of-8 shooting.

While Porter has long fueled the Nets’ offense, he has struggled as a closer. In 65 clutch minutes this season, the star forward has shot 12-of-38 (31.6 percent) from the field and 4-of-24 (16.7 percent) with two assists and four turnovers.

Porter’s limitations as a ball-handler and self-creator have been most apparent during tight games, when defenses are most busy and primarily switching. Without a high-level shot creator behind them, Brooklyn’s offense has fallen short when it matters most.

The Nets have posted the league’s worst clutch record (5-19) and second-worst clutch offensive rating (96.0).

After encouraging early performances, Traore and Demin also lost on Sunday. Over the course of three quarters, Traoré scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting with five assists and two turnovers. Demin had 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting with four assists and zero turnovers.

However, the rookie duo shot 0 of 7 while committing four turnovers in the final frame.

“You go through experience, and you learn,” Fernandez said of Traore and Demin’s late struggles. “Some rushed shots and turnovers… you’ve got to learn how to stay composed. You’ve got to learn how to get everybody involved [the right] Locations, how to take good shots, and we didn’t do that. So that’s the next game.”

While Sunday’s loss undoubtedly stung Brooklyn’s locker room, it continued the team’s lead in a tightly contested tank race. After four consecutive losses, the Nets have regained sole possession of third place in the draft lottery standings. They are tied in the win column and two games behind the Indiana Pacers in the loss column, who are in second place.

If the season ended today, Brooklyn would have a 14.0 percent chance of finishing No. 1, a 52.1 percent chance of finishing in the top four, and a 93.0 percent chance of finishing in the top six. The third lottery slot cannot fall below the seventh pick.

The Miami Heat visited the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell heading into the matchup on Miami’s injury report. According to the official injury report, Herro is listed as probable while dealing with a right costochondral rib injury, while Powell is questionable due to lower back tightness after missing time before the All-Star break.

Here’s everything we know about Tyler Herro and Norman Powell’s injuries and their game status vs. the Hawks.

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Tyler Herro, Norman Powell’s injury status vs. Hawks

Given that Tyler Herro is probable on the injury report, the expectation is that he’ll be fit for at least limited minutes against the Hawks. Herro has missed significant time this season after fracturing three ribs in a loss to Indiana in January, forcing him to sit out 15 consecutive games entering the All-Star break.

The timing of his return is important for a Miami team that is 29-27 and sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, just two games behind the sixth seed in a tight playoff race.

Herro has been productive when available, averaging 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 49.7% from the field and 35.8% from three in limited appearances. During his absence the Heat’s offense has dropped from 13th (115.7) in offensive rating at the start of the season to 22nd (112.6).

Norman Powell’s position is less certain. The veteran wing is listed as questionable due to lower back tightness after missing the Heat’s final two games before the break.

Powell has been one of Miami’s most consistent scorers, averaging 23 points per game, while ranking among the league’s better perimeter threats with 2.9 three-pointers per game.

heat injury report

Tyler Herro – Probable (right costochondral rib injury)

Norman Powell – doubtful (lower back tightness)

Keshad Johnson – Questionable (sore left calf).

Terry Rozier – Out (not with team)

Andrew Wiggins – available (toe inflammation)

Pelle Larsson – available (finger injury)

Simone Fontecchio – available (illness)

Drew Smith – Available (ankle soreness)

Kasparus Jacusionis – Available (Ankle Swelling)

hawks injury report

Jonathan Kuminga – out (knee)

As the internationally active Atlanta Hawks emerge from the All-Star break vying for the final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference, Dyson Daniels is focused on making noise in the NBA postseason. The cliché of one day at a time is truly the mantra of this locker room, although the time zones of their home calls vary wildly. However, although the 22-year-old is enjoying every moment of the trip, Daniels is already planning an unforgettable summer supporting Australia’s Socceroos at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“I’m not that interested in football, but I’ll go to the World Cup,” Dyson admitted to ClutchPoints. “It would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’d go to see a game in Atlanta. I’d go to see Australia play the USA in Seattle. That atmosphere feels great.”

Atlanta will host the Round of 32, Round of 16 and semi-finals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, giving Daniels prime access to exclusive matchups right on his doorstep before reporting back to Hawks training camp. The key matchup for the Socceroos is a Group D clash against hosts United States on June 19 at Seattle’s Lumen Field, one of the loudest and most passionate soccer venues in North America.

Hawks focus on hardwoods

For now, the focus is on the work at hand. Daniels is enjoying the best season of his career, averaging 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and an impressive 6.3 assists per game while also providing his signature lockdown defense. If the Hawks can navigate the play-in gauntlet and secure a playoff berth, the summer vacation will be well-earned. Thankfully, locker room bonding is made easier because the roster reads like a United Nations roll call.

“When you have a lot of Europeans, a lot of international guys on your team, I think we have eight or nine on this (Hawks) team, so we’re just trying to play as an under (Quinn Snyder),” Daniels shared. “We’ve all had different experiences, different backgrounds. Everyone has their own story. We’ve come in different circumstances. We’re enjoying this journey together.”

“Basketball is good this way,” Daniels said. “It brings us all together, brings people together from all over the world so see things, get perspective. (Nickle Alexander-Walker), (C.J. McCallum), and I had similar experiences in New Orleans, which we’ve talked about, and then a lot of international guys have had similar experiences as well. That’s helped us.”

That same sense of basketball as a connector gets Daniels excited about the NBA’s growing global footprint. He has watched the NBA’s foray into international markets with particular interest, both as a global ambassador for the game and as an Australian who knows first-hand what it means for a country to feel connected to the league.

“Yeah, I think it’s really cool. Basketball is a worldwide game. It was great for Europeans to get the experience of (NBA regular season) games,” Dyson explained. “They’ve got a growing culture there, so the NBA games really help.”

While his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans, visited Australia for preseason games, Daniels hopes the Land Down Under will soon get the same treatment in Europe.

Daniels suggested, “Europe got regular season games. Australia got preseason games, but hopefully the NBA will get some regular season games there soon.” “Some teams are starting their seasons overseas, partnering up with international teams. Getting the experience of those regular season games (in other countries) really means something. It’s special.”

It’s a fitting summer for a player who has embraced what makes the modern NBA so appealing. Whether the postseason trip ends in the NBA Play-In Tournament or a few weeks later, Dyson Daniels plans to ride the wave of momentum. With the leadership of Alexander-Walker, Daniels, Asa Newell and Jalen Johnson, the Hawks finally have something ‘special’ in the South that can compete for a conference finals appearance next season.

週二，洛杉磯湖人隊在 Crypto.com Arena 以 141-116 擊敗亞特蘭大老鷹隊，結束了三連敗。

半場結束，湖人隊建立了21分的領先優勢，並且沒有回頭。他們將戰績提高到24勝14負，其中主場11勝7負。而老鷹則以20-22落敗。

勒布朗·詹姆斯上演了當晚的精彩表演 大力猛擊 在第四節的中場休息時。

勒布朗處於飛行模式 ✈️pic.twitter.com/D6JA4hevlx

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2026 年 1 月 14 日

41 歲的詹姆斯繼續以令人瞠目結舌的表現挑戰邏輯。儘管有人認為他在過去幾個賽季因傷病而放慢了腳步，但他仍然可以站起來。

這位四屆 MVP 因花費大量資金來保持體格而臭名昭著。他的職業道德幫助他保持競爭力，同時也激勵年輕球員追隨他的腳步，包括老鷹隊前鋒賈倫·約翰遜和費城 76 人隊後衛泰瑞斯·馬克西。

詹姆斯在對陣亞特蘭大的比賽中拿下31分、9個籃板和10次助攻，近乎三雙。盧卡·東契奇貢獻27分，其中5個三分球、5個籃板和12次助攻。

詹姆斯和東契奇在賽前被列為可疑球員。

德安德烈·艾頓、傑克·拉拉維亞、馬庫斯·斯馬特和加布·文森特也得分上雙。

尼克爾·亞歷山大-沃克為老鷹隊拿下26分、4個籃板和3次助攻，替補出場的CJ·麥科勒姆得到25分。

湖人近10場比賽戰績僅為5勝5負，但只要詹姆斯和東契奇健康，他們就永遠有獲勝的機會。

他們將於週四主場迎戰夏洛特黃蜂隊，重返賽場。