The Atlanta Hawks are on the road against the Washington Wizards tonight in the second game of a three-game road trip, and it is a matchup that should tell us something about both teams early in the season.
The Hawks enter at 4-4, while the Wizards have been solid to start the year. That sets up a game that should come down to style as much as execution, with paint scoring and three-point defense standing out as the biggest factors.
A paint battle with room for pressure on the perimeter
Washington has done a good job protecting the paint and has also been effective on three-point defense, which gives the Wizards a clear path to making things difficult on Atlanta. At the same time, the Hawks will have a chance to test whether they can generate enough interior scoring to keep the game on their terms.
Anthony Davis is the central name in this matchup because he has a real chance to dominate in the game. The Hawks offer little protection around the rim, and that opens the door for him to have a major impact in the paint.
The numbers point in the same direction. The Wizards have allowed 54 points in the paint, and Atlanta has scored the fourth-most points in the paint. If that trend holds, the interior battle could decide who controls the night.
What comes next for Atlanta
This is also not the only time these teams will see each other this week. The Hawks and Wizards are scheduled to meet again on Friday in Atlanta, which gives both sides a quick chance to adjust based on what happens tonight.
For Atlanta, the goal is simple: finish the road trip on a strong note and keep building momentum around a 4-4 start. For Washington, another solid showing would reinforce that the Wizards can hang in games that demand discipline on both ends.
