Charlotte Hornets

Hornets Gameday: versus the Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) missed Wednesday’s game with a quad injury. Does he play Friday?
Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) missed Wednesday’s game with a quad injury. Does he play Friday? AP

7 p.m., Spectrum Center

TV: Fox Sports Southeast Radio: WFNZ-AM 610.

Projected Starters

Hornets

Hawks

Pos, Player

PPG

RPG

Pos, Player

PPG

RPG

G K. Walker

25.3

3.8

G D. Schroder

16.3

3.8

G N. Batum

13.8

6.4

G K. Korver

9.8

2.4

F M. Kidd-Gilchrist

8.9

8

F K. Bazemore

11.3

3.1

F M. Williams

10.9

6.8

F P. Millsap

16.7

7.7

C C. Zeller

10.6

5

C D. Howard

15.2

12.4

Matchup to Watch

Marvin Williams vs. Paul Millsap: Millsap has been terrific for the Hawks with equivalent ability to post up and hit 3-pointers. He scored 21 Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Williams is one of the Hornets’ best all-around defenders.

Observations

▪  The Hawks are second in field-goal percentage, making better than 48 percent of their shot attempts. That’s an accomplishment after the Hawks lost Al Horford to the Celtics in free agency.

▪  The Hawks are second in the NBA in assists at 26.8 points per game. They signed point guard Dennis Schroder to a lucrative contract extension last month.

Tap-ins

▪  The Hornets went 3-5 against the Hawks the past two seasons after losing 11 of 12 in this series.

▪  The Hawks signed center Dwight Howard, who grew up in Atlanta, as a free agent over the summer. He missed Wednesday’s game with a quad injury.

Did you know?

The Hornets commit the second-fewest turnovers in the NBA this season. The Hawks force the most opponent turnovers this season. Something’s got to give.

Rick Bonnell

This story was originally published November 17, 2016 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Hornets Gameday: versus the Atlanta Hawks."

Sports Pass is your ticket to Charlotte sports
#ReadLocal

Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Charlotte area sports - only $1 a month

VIEW OFFER