Shorthanded Wizards fall to Hawks for ninth straight loss

The Washington Wizards are still working on stringing productive quarters together to play a full 48 minutes, so perhaps stringing two productive games together is a tall ask. But the team who took the court at Capital One Arena on Saturday bore strikingly little resemblance to the squad that hung with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks the night prior, and not just because they were missing Jordan Poole.

This version of the Wizards couldn’t take care of the ball, couldn’t muster a rebound and couldn’t keep up with the Atlanta Hawks in transition. The result was a lifeless 136-108 loss, Washington’s ninth straight.

The Wizards (2-14) fell behind by double digits midway though the first quarter as they opened the second night of their back-to-back sluggishly and never found their footing against Atlanta’s zippy offense. Trae Young led six Hawks (8-7) in double figures with 26 points and orchestrated the attack so fluidly that he was one of two players, along with Dejounte Murray, who had 10 assists before the start of the fourth quarter.

Poole was a late scratch due to left ankle soreness with guard Corey Kispert filling his spot in the starting lineup. Shorthanded and apparently sapped from a two-game trip, the Wizards played with none of the verve or focus they exhibited in Milwaukee and racked up 20 turnovers. Atlanta also beat Washington on the boards, 49-41.

Two-way player Jared Butler led the Wizards with 13 points in 16 minutes after checking in late in the third quarter. Kyle Kuzma had 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Daniel Gafford and Landry Shamet also added 12 apiece.

Here’s what else there is to know about Saturday’s loss:

Poole a late scratch

Poole didn’t appear on the injury report, warmed up and was set to start until the Wizards announced he would miss the game less than 30 minutes before tip-off. The team also announced earlier Saturday that guard Ryan Rollins, who has missed the past two games, is week-to-week with a right knee strain.

They were also without big man Danilo Gallinari, who sat out the second-night of the back-to-back as a precaution given his reconstructed knee, and Delon Wright, who missed his eighth straight game with a left knee sprain.

Deni Avdija played despite being listed as questionable with a non-covid illness.

Three-point problems

The Wizards’ strongest performances of the year usually involve one component: a hot night from the three-point line. They shot 9-for-36 from deep against Atlanta and sorely missed Poole’s presence. They also missed the production they got from Kispert on Friday night, when he went 6-for-10 from beyond the arc — he went 1-for-10 Saturday. The guard is focusing on increasing his volume from three this season and entered the Hawks’ game shooting 38.9 percent from three on 5.1 attempts per game.

Poole, though he’s shooting just 28.6 percent from three, averages seven three-point attempts per game and can open up opportunities for Kispert when they’re on court together.

Johnson injury

Atlanta starting forward Jalen Johnson left the game in the second quarter after Kuzma blocked his dunk and he appeared to hit his wrist on the bottom of the backboard. Johnson, who looked to be in considerable pain, shot one of his two ensuing free throws one-handed and rejoined the Hawks bench in the third quarter dressed in street clothes. Saddiq Bey replaced him in the rotation.