The Atlanta Hawks are navigating a challenging time in late January. Largely due to a combination of injuries and poor shotmaking, Quin Snyder’s team is on a six-game losing streak, turning an encouraging 22-19 record into a 22-25 mark in a hurry. On top of that, the Hawks officially lost their second-best player, Jalen Johnson, for the rest of the 2024-25 season due to upcoming shoulder surgery.
Without Johnson, the Hawks simply aren’t the same team overall, and it stands to reason that the team’s ceiling is lower in his absence. However, Atlanta has been able to reach lofty heights against top-tier teams this season, and that is where Thursday night’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers comes into focus.
The Hawks and Cavs meet for a nationally televised clash on Thursday, with the game tipping off on TNT just after the NBA All-Star reserves are announced. Some would view the 38-9 Cavaliers as being in a friendly position in this game at home, but Cleveland is actually 0-2 against Atlanta this season. The Hawks gave the Cavaliers their second and third losses of the campaign back in November, including an NBA Cup victory that eventually helped to propel Atlanta all the way to Las Vegas.
Much has changed since those first two meetings, headlined by the loss of Johnson, but the Cavaliers have also lost three of their last five games overall. While Atlanta does go on the road for this game, it is also a situational advantage for the Hawks to some degree, as the Cavaliers are playing on the second night of a back-to-back with travel from Miami.
Cleveland did win in Miami on Wednesday, and standout guard Darius Garland will be fresh for the Cavaliers after resting in the first half of the back-to-back. Still, it is perhaps something for the Hawks to grab hold of in this matchup.
On the less encouraging side, the Hawks are still dealing with roster issues. Johnson’s absence will be felt against Cleveland’s frontcourt, and there is wild uncertainty around Bogdan Bogdanovic and Clint Capela, neither of whom will play on Thursday. It stands to reason that the Hawks will be betting underdogs in the game, but Atlanta has repeatedly been able to “play up” to the competition this season, and they’ll have that chance again in front of a national audience.
