by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Oct 31, 2021
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Where to watch: Bally Sports Southeast-Atlanta, NBC Sports Washington
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Hawks -5.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record
Wizards: 5-1
Hawks: 3-3
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Wizards - Hawks preview and analysis
Recent form
Wizards: won 115-112 (2OT) vs. Celtics on Saturday
Hawks: lost 122-94 at 76ers on Saturday
It would appear that the Washington Wizards have found an early formula that works.
I.E., the right point guard to put next to Bradley Beal. Through five games, Spencer Dinwiddie has been worth every penny.
Dinwiddie had 20 points and nine rebounds despite a struggling day shooting from the field, but he took enough pressure off Beal to score a game-high 36 points in the Wizards' 3-point double-overtime victory against the Boston Celtics on Friday in Capital One Arena.
The red-hot Wizards will hit the road Monday night to take on Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, who are at a .500 rate to begin the season, in this matchup of Eastern Conference contenders.
After last season's late surge to making the play-in tournament, the Wizards have picked up where they left off to win five of their first six.
"We're just having fun, man" Beal said. "We embrace each other on the daily. And it's amazing to be where we are. But ... we have that humble and hungry mentality. We haven't scratched the surface yet."
The Wizards are finding different ways to win. They shot 36.5 percent from the floor to hang around just enough and finish off a Celtics team that, while talented, has struggled out of the gates by losing four of six.
Perhaps the surprising aspect of this Washington start has been the depth. Young forward Rui Hachimura has not played this season, and now center Daniel Gafford is going to miss an extended period of time. Those coming to the rescue are the ones that probably didn't expect to be in Washington this year; Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell.
Kuzma, in particular, is the Wizards' leading rebounder at 11.8 per game (what?) while averaging nearly 16 points per game. He's been a very solid third option so far. Harrell, the former Sixth Man of the Year, is also averaging a double-double at 19.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
Trading Russell Westbrook has not turned into a complete disaster to this point.
This seems like a perfect time for the Wizards to keep the winning ways going, taking on a Hawks team that has lost two straight, including an 11-point loss at Washington on Thursday. The Hawks are playing the second game of a back-to-back after losing by 28 to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Ben Simmons did not pass on a dunk this time. Great job.
Young finished with 13 points on 5 of 16 shooting to go with 10 assists. Clint Capela addaed a double-double and Cam Reddish had 16 points off the bench. But John Collins and De'Andre Hunter combined to shoot 6 of 19 and only had two free-throw attempts between them.
"Our offense is out of sync and that's leading to no defense at all," Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. "We're turning the ball over. Our shot selection — we're taking quick shots and it's leading to transition baskets. We have no rhythm right now. And this group has to find a chemistry on the offensive end of the floor and that's leading to poor defense."
Not what you want to hear on a SEGABABA.
Prediction
I don't think the Hawks' struggles are long-term problems, but coming back home after getting shellacked on the road the night before doesn't bode well. Washington is on a roll right now and I like for the Wizards to roll by double digits. Wizards by 15
Betting trends
The Wizards are 15-4 in their last 19 ATS following a stretch of winning three of their last four.
Washington is 10-0 ATS in its last 10 following a stretch of four wins in five games.
The Hawks are 25-10 ATS in their last 35 as a home favorite.
The Hawks are 10-2 ATS after failing to cover in their previous three.
Projected starting lineup
Wizards:
PG: Spencer Dinwiddie
SG: Bradley Beal
SF: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: Montrezl Harrell
Hawks:
PG: Trae Young
SG: Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF: De'Andre Hunter
PF: John Collins
C: Clint Capela
Statistical leaders
Wizards:
Points: Bradley Beal -- 24.4
Rebounds: Kyle Kuzma -- 11.8
Assists: Spencer Dinwiddie -- 5.6
Blocks: Montrezl Harrell -- 1.2
Steals: Bradley Beal -- 1.8
Hawks:
Points: Trae Young -- 22.3
Rebounds: Clint Capela -- 10.5
Assists: Trae Young -- 10.0
Blocks: Clint Capela -- 1.7
Steals: John Collins -- 1.2
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
