Trae Young Returns To Atlanta As Wizards Seek Revenge In NBA Cup Clash
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Wizards face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. ET in an NBA Cup matchup. Trae Young plays his first game back in Atlanta as an opponent after a trade last season. The Wizards look to bounce back from a 120-105 loss on Wednesday where they missed key shots from deep. Atlanta enters the game with a thin frontcourt as Jalen Johnson remains questionable with a left ankle sprain. Following a right ankle sprain in the first quarter of their most recent matchup, Washington has also designated Anthony Davis as questionable.
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Young ranks first in franchise history for assists and three-pointers made while playing for the Hawks. He sits sixth on the all-time scoring list for the team. This emotional homecoming adds weight to a game where the Wizards must fix their defense. The Hawks made 19 three-pointers in the first matchup while Washington only made six. Atlanta now averages about 15 made threes per game compared to the Wizards’ nine. The Wizards need to stop leaking out on defense and box out better to win Friday.
Trae Young’s Homecoming and the Revenge Narrative
Trae Young spent seven seasons in Atlanta before joining the Wizards. His return to State Farm Arena marks a rare moment for a player facing his former team. Yahoo Sports reports that this marks the first occasion Young has come back to Atlanta representing the opposing team. He holds the top spots in the record books for assists and three-pointers. He also ranks sixth in total points scored for the franchise. Fans will watch closely to see if he can lead Washington to a win against the team that drafted him.
The Wizards lost the first game by 15 points. They struggled to contain the Hawks’ outside shooting. The Hawks torched the perimeter in that game. Washington needs to improve its defensive rotations and communicate better on screens. They cannot allow open looks for shooters like Nickeil Alexander-Walker again. The team must focus on getting to the rim and drawing fouls. These are the strengths the Wizards have compared to Atlanta’s outside game.
Injury Report: Johnson and Davis in Question
Jalen Johnson is listed as questionable for Friday due to a left ankle sprain. He missed the last two games and did not return after injuring the ankle against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 31. Yahoo Sports states that Johnson concluded that game recording 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. His season averages currently stand at 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. His absence hurts the Hawks because he provides scoring, rebounding, and playmaking from the forward spot.
Asa Newell is out with a left great toe hyperextension. The Hawks also miss Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar. Keshon Gilbert is out with left knee inflammation. RayJ Dennis and Jalen Wilson are questionable due to G League two-way designations. On the Wizards side, Anthony Davis is questionable with a sprained right ankle. He sprained it in the first quarter of the last game but played through it. On 12-for-19 shooting, he tallied 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. According to reports, Davis went to the locker room after the injury but returned in the second quarter. He left again in the third quarter before coming back in the fourth.
Key Adjustments for the Wizards to Win
The Wizards need to stop giving the Hawks second-chance points. In the first game, Atlanta grabbed 19 offensive boards. The Hawks outrebounded Washington by 16 overall. Dyson Daniels alone grabbed 16 rebounds for Atlanta. This number almost tied the combined total of Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr, who had 19 rebounds. The Wizards cannot let one player dominate the glass like that. AJ Dybantsa, Kyshawn George and other wings must prioritize boxing out. They cannot leak out for transition points before securing the rebound.
Washington also needs to use Young to control the pace. He should create easier shots for the young players. This might mean more pick-and-roll action with Davis. It could also involve getting AJ Dybantsa downhill. Open looks must be created for Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George by the team. In the second half of the first game, Dybantsa rarely saw action in half-court sets. He mostly sat in the corner. That must change if Washington wants to split this series. The Wizards do not need a new plan. Defending the perimeter, securing rebounds, and balancing the offense are all they require.
Division Rivalry and NBA Cup Stakes
Both teams are fighting for the top spot in the Southeast Division. The Wizards briefly held the number one spot before losing to the Hawks on Wednesday. A win on Friday would help them climb back up the standings. The game is part of the 2026 NBA Cup group stage. According to Bullets Forever, the matchup is interesting because both teams are ranked first and second in the division. The Hawks showed flashes of team defense in the last win. They held Washington to 105 points. Without some late garbage time, the score could have been even lower.
Atlanta found a way to win without Jalen Johnson in the last game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points including six three-pointers. Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels each grabbed 16 rebounds. The Hawks proved they can beat Washington even when missing key players. However, losing Newell removes another option for interior work. If Johnson stays out, Atlanta will need its perimeter players to help finish on defense and create extra chances. The Wizards have a chance to prove they can beat the Hawks again. They just need to execute better on the boards and on defense.
- Game Time: Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. ET
- Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- TV: Monumental Sports Network
- Radio: The Team 980 AM, 106.7-2 FM