Having designated Dejounte Murray and De’Andre Hunter as available players, the anticipation heightened to observe the Hawks’ starting lineup, especially with Saddiq Bey sidelined for this matchup. Atlanta opted to commence the game with Trae Young, Murray, Garrison Matthews, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela. Meanwhile, the Warriors initiated the contest with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins.
Steph Curry continues to shine this season for the Warriors, contributing significantly to their scoring ability, despite challenges in other areas. Golden State ranks 7th in points per game (PPG), 18th in field goal percentage, 4th in three-point attempts, 9th in three-point percentage, 4th in rebounding, and 25th in turnovers. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Warriors rank 11th in points per 100 possessions, 12th in effective field goal percentage, 22nd in turnover percentage, 4th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 17th in free throw rate.
In the previous encounter between these two teams, Jonathan Kuminga’s flawless performance stood out, as he didn’t miss a shot, going 11 for 11 and scoring 25 points, tying with Curry for the game’s highest score. Klay Thompson added 24 points, shooting 5-10 from three. The Warriors collectively shot 56% from the field and 49% from three. Kuminga continued his impressive form with a 29-point performance in the recent victory against the Grizzlies.
Although the Hawks’ defense has been perceived as one of the weakest in the NBA, there have been signs of improvement during their recent winning streak. Overall, Atlanta ranks 29th in PPG allowed, 28th in field goal percentage allowed, 18th in three-point attempts allowed, and 28th in three-point percentage allowed. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are 26th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 29th in effective field goal percentage allowed.
To succeed in this game against Golden State, the Hawks’ defense needs a considerable upgrade compared to their previous matchup. Containing Curry and Thompson should be the primary focus, although Kuminga’s emerging threat adds an additional challenge. Despite defensive concerns, the Hawks’ offense is in excellent form, with Trae Young displaying high-level performances, scoring over 30 points and recording more than 10 assists in three of the last four games. Young is expected to have ample opportunities to replicate this performance.