Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 10, 2020 ) Atlanta 101, Washington 111

The Atlanta Hawks are starting to put up solid performances from time to time, but consistency remains an issue with the young squad. The Hawks will try to bounce back from one of their roughest defensive performances when they host the Washington Wizards on Sunday.

Atlanta knocked off the Western Conference-power Los Angeles Clippers 102-95 on Wednesday after rallying from 21 points down but looked like a different team down the stretch on Friday in a 140-111 setback at the Oklahoma City Thunder. "That one stings," Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce told reporters after the loss. "I thought our guys were playing well tonight, for about 34 minutes. ... A combination of getting beat off the dribble in the fourth quarter and an inability to score for us, was kind of a bad combination in that fourth quarter. Could never really slow them down or take them out of rhythm." The Wizards are winners of two of their last three and shot 55.3 percent from the floor in a 124-112 triumph at Cleveland on Thursday. Washington began the four-game trip with a 134-129 overtime setback at Miami on Wednesday and finishes at NBA-best Milwaukee on Tuesday.

TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Washington, FS Southeast

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (15-29): Star shooting guard Bradley Beal is averaging 34.3 points over the last three games and went for 36 on 15-of-22 shooting and eight assists in Thursday's triumph. "That guy, he's money," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters of Beal. "You're an All-Star for a reason and he keeps leading us. That's what I love about him. None of us expected this season to end up with the situation that we've had, but he's led us and battled for us and puts us in a position to compete every night. He's going to make shots. He's a shot-maker. He's a playmaker." Beal is shooting 52.6 percent from the field in seven games this month.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (11-35): Atlanta point guard Trae Young was announced as an All-Star starter on Thursday and collected 26 points and 16 assists on Friday but went 7-of-20 from the floor while dealing with a thigh injury. Having no problem knocking down shots is forward John Collins, who went 13-of-16 from the floor on Friday and is shooting 61.7 percent over the last six contests. Rookie guard Cam Reddish added 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting on Friday to pull out of a slump that saw him go 11-of-32 over the previous three contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hawks C Alex Len left Friday's game with a hip injury and is day-to-day.

2. Wizards C Thomas Bryant is 13-of-18 from the floor over the last three games.

3. Washington took the first meeting 111-101 at home on Jan. 10 despite missing Beal.

PREDICTION: Wizards 126, Hawks 121