The Atlanta Hawks are looking to bounce back on their home court this Friday night after a tough stretch on the road. Following a 133-126 defeat against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday—their third loss in five games—the Hawks return to State Farm Arena to face the San Antonio Spurs in a high-stakes inter-conference matchup.
Eastern Conference Standings and Team Momentum
Despite the recent setback, the Hawks' season narrative remains positive. Nearly thirty games into the campaign, Coach Quin Snyder's squad is firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff mix. Remarkably, they have stayed competitive and are just one game behind the third seed, even while navigating the absence of their star guard, Trae Young. This resilience will be tested on the second night of a back-to-back.
The San Antonio Spurs, meanwhile, arrive with renewed vigor. Having dealt with injuries to key players like Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama, the team is now fit and coming off a dominant 119-94 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday. They are eager to prove their mettle on the road once again.
Game Details, Lineups, and Injury Report
The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the State Farm Arena. Fans in India can catch the action on FDSSE, KENS, WANF, and the Peachtree Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on Fubo.
The expected starting lineups present an interesting dynamic. For the Hawks, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is likely to start at point guard, supported by Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. The Spurs are projected to counter with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Luke Kornet.
The injury report is a critical factor. The Hawks will be without several key players: Trae Young (knee), Eli John Ndiaye (coach's decision), N'Faly Dante (concussion), and Kristaps Porzingis (health issue) are all listed as out. For the Spurs, only Kyle Mangas is marked as day-to-day, indicating a relatively healthy roster.
Expert Analysis and Game Prediction
Analysing recent form, the Hawks failed to cover as a 2.5-point underdog in their loss to Charlotte, though the game hit the Over on the 246-point total. The silver lining was the spectacular performance from Jalen Johnson, who dropped a game-high 43 points. Atlanta's against-the-spread (ATS) record in its last five games is an inconsistent 2-3, mirroring their win-loss pattern.
The Spurs have found a rhythm, winning eight of their last ten. Their In-Season Tournament final loss did not impact regular-season standings, and they showcased their depth against the Wizards. Rookie Dylan Harper impressed off the bench with a season-high 24 points, while Wembanyama (15 points), Castle (17 points), and Vassell (18 points) contributed efficiently.
This sets the stage for a tightly contested battle. The Hawks, fueled by the home crowd and a need to stabilize, will rely on Johnson's hot hand and collective effort to compensate for Young's absence. The Spurs, with their key players back and confidence high, will look to exploit Atlanta's fatigue from the back-to-back. Expect a neck-and-neck contest where execution in the final minutes will likely decide the outcome.
