Hawks vs Wizards: Game Thread – Carroll and Korver Both Out

Mar 2, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver (26) and Atlanta Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll (5) collide while going after a rebound against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview

It’s going to be a tough game tonight for the injury-riddled Atlanta Hawks, as they are on the road in the nation’s capital to take on division rival Washington Wizards without two key starters.

Shooting guard Kyle Korver and small forward DeMarre Carroll and both out for the Hawks. Shelvin Mack will replace Korver and Cartier Martin will start for Carroll.

This is the sixth straight game Korver is inactive due to back spasms, while Carroll is inactive because of an illness he came with that caused him to be hospitalized for IV fluids Friday night, reports Hawks beat writer Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was initially listed as a “game-time decision.”

There was a scare that interim center Pero Antic would also not be available after he suffered a sprained right ankle Wednesday night at Minnesota and missed the following game on Thursday at home against the Trail Blazers, but thankfully he’s got a “95 percent” chance of playing tonight.

This is the fourth-and-final meeting of the season between Atlanta and Washington. The Wizards lead the series 2-1. They won the first and third meetings of the season over the Hawks, while Atlanta won the second matchup in a 101-99 overtime victory at home in Philips Arena Dec. 13.

Both teams are currently projected to make the post-season, as the Wizards are in sixth place in the East, while the Hawks are clinging onto the eighth and final playoff spot by a slim two-game margin over the ninth-place Knicks.

Scroll down to check out the starting lineups, full injury report and series notes.

Quick Facts

Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Washington Wizards

What?: Southeast Divisional Showdown (Game #72, Road Game #38)

Where?: Verizon Center (Washington, DC)

When?: Saturday, March 29, 2014 – 8:00 PM (ET)

How?: SportSouth HD TV & 92.9 FM

Probable Starters

Atlanta Hawks:

PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Shelvin Mack | SF: Cartier Martin | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Pero Antic

Washington Wizards:

PG: John Wall | SG: Bradley Beal | SF: Trevor Ariza | PF: Trevor Booker | C: Marcin Gortat

Injury Report

Atlanta Hawks: Pero Antic (right ankle sprain) is probable. DeMarre Carroll (illness) is a game-time decision. Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery), John Jenkins (lower back surgery) and Kyle Korver (back spasms) are out.

Washington Wizards: Nene (sprained left MCL) is out.

Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold

Records: Atlanta Hawks (31-40) / Washington Wizards (37-35)

Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 5 | HOME: Lost 3 | ROAD: Lost 2              Washington Wizards –> OVERALL: Won 1 | HOME: Won 1 | ROAD: Lost 1

Home/Away Records: Wizards are (18-17) at home / Hawks are (11-26) on the road.

Atlanta Hawks: Cold. The Hawks have lost five straight games, and could possibly be without 2/5 of their starting lineup

Washington Wizards: Lukewarm. The Wizards got an impressive win last night against the Pacers, but had lost four of their last five before that.

Series Notes/Past Series Notes

Atlanta travels to Washington for the second time in the fourth-and-final matchup of the season. The Wizards took the first meeting 108-101 at home on 11/30. The Hawks won the second matchup 101-99 (OT) on 12/13 at Philips Arena. Washington was victorious in Atlanta on 2/19 (114-97). Atlanta’s Paul Millsap has recorded a double-double in all three contests, averaging 20.0 points and 10.7 rebounds. John Wall has recorded a double-double in all three games for the Wizards, averaging 20.0 points and 11.7 assists. Washington has won two straight over the Hawks at home, with the last Atlanta road victory coming on 12/18/12 (100-95). The Hawks lead the all-time series 145-136 (46-88 on the road).

LAST MEETING — WIZARDS 114, HAWKS 97 — ATLANTA, GA — 2/9/14

Atlanta fell behind 31-14 after one as Washington hit .542 FG% (13-24) and .667 3FG% (4-6) for the stanza. The Wizards pushed the lead to 20 midway through the second before the Hawks rallied to make it 58-47 at the break. Atlanta kept coming in the third, cutting the deficit to one multiple times, but Trevor Ariza’s three-quarters court heave at the buzzer went in, pushing the visitors advantage back to eight heading to the final frame. The Hawks got it back down to five with under nine minutes to go, however Washington answered with a 13-2 run to put it out of reach. Paul Millsap (21 points/11 rebounds) and Elton Brand (season-highs of 20 points/11 boards) each posted a double-double for the home team. Jeff Teague added 16 points, Lou Williams 14 and Kyle Korver 10. John Wall paced seven Wizards in double-figures with 21 points and 12 assists and Marcin Gortat chipped-in 14 points and 12 rebounds. Washington shot .517 FG% and knocked 13-24 3FGs (.542) on the night, while Atlanta made .452 FG% and 6-16 (.375) from distance.

Common Threads

Shelvin Mack was originally selected by Washington in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft and played parts of two seasons with the club (2011-13). Cartier Martin saw action in 118 games with Washington in three-plus seasons (2009-13). Hawks Assistant Coach Darvin Ham played 71 games for the Wizards in 1997-98. Wizards Head Coach Randy Wittman is a former Hawk (353 games played from 1983-88). Al Harrington played for Atlanta from 2004-06. Wizards Scout Greg Ballard is a former Hawks Assistant Coach and Scout. Glen Rice played his college ball at Georgia Tech. Gustavo Ayon and Trevor Ariza were teammates with New Orleans in 2011-12. DeMarre Carroll, Harrington and Nene played together briefly with Denver in 2011-12. Garrett Temple played for San Antonio for parts of 2009-10 and 2010-11 while Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer was an Assistant on the Spurs’ bench.

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Information was used from the Hawks and Wizards official gamenotes

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