After a five-day rest, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Detroit Pistons tonight at Little Caesars Arena.
Will the Hawks defeat the Pistons for the first time this season?
Through 25 games, the Atlanta Hawks sit at 14-11, placing them in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. This season has been intense. In the East, seeds 3-9 are separated by just one game.
Atlanta is back in action tonight as they take on the Detroit Pistons. This will be Atlanta's third game against the red-hot Pistons this season and the second at Little Caesars Arena.
Despite success elsewhere, the Hawks have not matched up well against the Detroit Pistons this season. To be fair, not many teams have. They are alone at the top in the Eastern Conference, sitting at 19-5 on the year.
Since Atlanta is 0-2 against them this year, they will need to give this one their all. Detroit would clinch the season-series against Atlanta if they were to come away with a win.
Many expect the Pistons to eventually come back down to Earth, and when they do, it will be important that the Hawks did not dig themselves into too deep of a hole to climb out of.
Cade Cunningham has been the engine to Detroit's success this season, and it will be important for Atlanta to force him into uncomfortable looks. On the season, Cunningham is averaging over 27 points per game, placing him firmly within the race for MVP.
He is a guy who has simply had his way with the Hawks this season. Despite how the rest of the night had gone, he has never had an issue getting to his spots in late-game scenarios. In simpler terms, Cunningham has looked like Dyson Daniels' kryptonite.
Late Thursday afternoon, the Hawks put out their initial injury report for tonight's game against the Pistons. Despite the five-day break from on-court action, Porziņģis was ruled out with an illness.
This will be the third time Porziņģis has missed an important matchup with Detroit this season. In the first two matchups, they have lacked the size and physicality necessary to compete. Hawks fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see their big man face off against the East's best.
Alongside Porziņģis on the injury report were N'Faly Dante, Jacob Toppin and Trae Young. The Hawks should have ten active players tonight.
Onyeka Okongwu will get the start at center tonight, with hopes of continuing what has been a breakout season so far. On the year, he is averaging 16.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 blocks on 50.7% from the field and 35.5% from three.
Okongwu and the rest of Atlanta's paint defenders will have their hands full tonight, as this physical Detroit team excels down low. Jalen Duren is another big who is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 18.8 points and 11.5 rebounds on 65.5% from the field.
It will be a tough task for the Hawks to come away with a victory tonight, but if they do, it will show real signs of growth as one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.