Regular Season Game 79
Wizards (39-39) at Hawks (29-49)
Phillips Arena
7 PM
CSN
Previous Results:
Wizards 96, Hawks 95.
Wizards 93, Hawks 92.
Hawks 100, Wizards 97.
The good news for the Wizards is that the Hawks will be missing Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. The bad news is...the Hawks will be missing Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.
This is probably the only slam dunk winnable game on the schedule. Everyone else left is playing for something (Chicago, Orlando, and Indiana, although that may change if the Pacers get knocked out before the last game). Atlanta is the only team left that you could argue is trying to lose, because if they don't get a top 3 pick, it goes to the Suns. Without their two best players, the Hawks really have nobody who can score. In their win over Boston, Zaza Pachulia and Tyronn Lue led the team in scoring. At least the Wizards still have a bona fide scorer in Antawn Jamison playing.
Basically, this is the game where we'll get a true barometer of the last six games. The Wizards haven't won since Gil went down, but they've been in every game against four playoff teams. That's a positive in its own right, but it's time to get a win. If they can't beat this depleted Atlanta team, it's a really, really bad sign.
Hawks blogs: Impending Firestorm.
Your lines for tonight:
Wizards at Hawks: Wizards by 2.
Over/Under on Blatche's minutes: 12.
This is an open game thread, so make fun of Shelden Williams' face here.