Otto Porter on the mend as Wizards prepare for a big week

1. Otto Porter and Nene shouldn't miss significant time

When Porter pulled up mid-run against the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, he felt something grab at his hamstring. That something was apparently a big ol' cramp. And now, after three days of rest and rehab, he seems to be back on track to play tonight vs. the Atlanta Hawks.

Nene, on the other hand, may be able to make it back on the court soon but his status is more uncertain than Porter's. He's got a history of plantar fasciitis and it's difficult to say exactly how he will respond to the most recent injury to his foot. It could be a quick recovery with rest, or it could be a persistent, lingering injury that keeps him out for much longer. Wittman, though, doesn't expect him to miss more than a game or two. We'll have to keep monitoring his situation.

In his absence, the Wizards will rely heavily on Drew Gooden III and the rest of their deep bench to fill the void.

2. Wizards still showing interest in Ray Allen

The 39-year old is still keeping himself in shape while he waits around, deciding whether he will call it quits or give it another run in the league. In the meantime, the Wizards are still showing that they have interest in bringing the sharpshooter to D.C.

Cavs, Bulls, Wizards, Spurs among the 7 teams interested in Ray Allen. Allen's in Miami, keeping himself in shape

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) November 24, 2014

There are some big teams in that mix, but the homer inside of me is thinking that Allen would have a heck of a fun time spotting up from beyond the arc waiting for John Wall to collapse the defense and kick it out to him for continually open looks.

3. Wizards showing maturity

The Wizards have always seemed to let their guard down when faced with a lesser opponent following a big win on back-to-back nights. It almost looked to be going down that road again when the team got themselves into an early hole against the Milwaukee Bucks the night after they dominated the Cavs on national television.

They found their rhythm as the Bucks began to cool off, thanks to a drop in Milwaukee's adrenaline and some good Wizards defense, and the veteran leadership of Paul Pierce took over, as he and Wall helped lead the team to an even more important win than they got against the Cavs.

4. A look ahead

The Wizards continue with another tough week tonight when the Atlanta Hawks come to D.C. They'll also face a Cavs team in Cleveland looking for revenge and the the most dominant player in the league by far, when Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans come to town. This will be another very important barometer in the early season.

5. Wizards take on the Hawks tonight

The Wizards (9-3) will host the Hawks (6-5) in a Southeast Division matchup tonight. It should be a very intriguing game as both teams feature very talented point guards and skilled front court players with the ability to step out and hit midrange shots.

Tip off is at 7 p.m. at Verizon Center. The game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet and can be heard on 99.1 WNEW.

Bonus: Week in review

Can't get enough of what the Wizards did last week? Here's a review of how the team fared in their toughest week to date.