Wizards try for a winning streak, host tumbling Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks and the Washington Wizards are searching for answers as they wrap up play in the 2023 calendar year.

Despite similarly disappointing seasons -- and a December that has seen each squad lose 10 of 13 games -- one team can enter the new year on a high note by picking up a victory in Sunday's game at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The Hawks come in losers of four straight, with a double-digit lead blown in all four defeats. The most recent unraveling was Friday night in a 117-110 home loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Atlanta led 31-8 in the first quarter and by as many as 18 in the second half before seeing its offense go ice-cold down the stretch. In a microcosm of its season, Atlanta shot just 13 of 45 (28.9 percent) from the field and 5 of 23 (21.7 percent) on 3-pointers in the second half en route to the seven-point loss.

"Our execution on both ends of the floor let us down in the fourth quarter," Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. "In the third quarter, when they made a run on us, it was both missed shots and turnovers late.

"The biggest thing for us is that it's not one thing, it's not one guy. It's the collective, and we just have to grind through this."

One bright spot during the Atlanta skid has been the return of Jalen Johnson, who missed 14 games with a broken wrist before coming back Tuesday in Chicago. In two games since his reappearance, Johnson is averaging 13 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, including a career-high 15-rebound performance against Sacramento.

"It feels good to be back, but we need to get some wins," Johnson said. "We've got to start a streak going into this new year. Our energy has been fine. That has not been the issue. It's just been the end of games. We play good for three quarters, but that fourth quarter is when the games matter the most."

Atlanta hopes to put together a rare four-quarter performance on Sunday when it faces a Washington team that is searching for its first winning streak of the season.

In a 110-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the Wizards gave its fans something to cheer about in an otherwise dreadful 2023.

Led by Kyle Kuzma's 26 points, Washington was able to celebrate just its third home win of the season. Kuzma and Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. praised veteran reserve - and former Hawk - Mike Muscala and his contribution off the bench in the victory.

The 32-year-old center matched a season-high with 11 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists.

"To his credit, that's a guy who stays ready ... " Unseld Jr. said of Muscala. "He's around the rim and uses the rule of verticality to impact the play, and to throw in a couple 3s, it does change the complexion of the game."

Muscala also had two blocked shots.

"Mike was huge. He did a phenomenal job," Kuzma said. "He's such a professional. He doesn't complain about minutes, he works hard and he made the most of his opportunity tonight. I'm really proud of him."

Washington will need continued offensive production Sunday, as they try to outscore an Atlanta team that was tied with Philadelphia for third in scoring, entering Saturday's games, at 121.9 points per game.

- Field Level Media