Hawks Host Wizards in Atlanta with Trae Young Out; Jalen Johnson Projected as Primary Playmaker
The Atlanta Hawks will meet the Washington Wizards on Feb. 24, 2026, at State Farm Arena with a 7: 30 p. m. ET tipoff on Monumental Sports Network. The hawks enter the game without Trae Young in his return to Atlanta, a development that alters the balance of playmaking and rotation for the home side.
Development details — Hawks lineup and availability
The matchup is scheduled for 7: 30 p. m. ET on Feb. 24, 2026, at State Farm Arena and will be carried on Monumental Sports Network. The Hawks enter the night at 28-31 and the Wizards at 16-40; this is their third meeting of the season. Trae Young remains out in his return to Atlanta, while former Wizards Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum are listed as available for the Hawks. The watch guide for the game notes D'Angelo Russell is out (not injury related) and Cam Whitmore is out for the season with a shoulder issue.
Jalen Johnson has been a focal point for Atlanta this season. He was selected as an All-Star earlier this month and is averaging 8. 1 assists per game, a mark that ranks him among the league leaders in playmaking.
Context and escalation
The context for Wednesday’s contest centers on a contrast in strengths and weaknesses. Washington has been porous in its help and team defense, allowing the second-most assists per game in the league. That defensive profile has amplified the impact of Atlanta ball handlers; across two previous meetings this season, Johnson averaged 9. 5 assists against Washington.
Those matchups, coupled with Johnson’s season-long uptick in creation, have generated betting and matchup narratives — one prominent wager in coverage sets Jalen Johnson over 7. 5 assists for the game. The Hawks’ home trends also feed into expectations: Atlanta has hit the 3Q Game Total Over in 21 of its last 30 home games.
Immediate impact
With Trae Young out, the hawks will redistribute playmaking duties and scoring load. Johnson’s facilitation profile positions him to shoulder more of the ball-distribution responsibility; his 8. 1 assists per game and prior 9. 5-assist average across two meetings with Washington are the clearest measurable signals of that role shift. CJ McCollum, available for Atlanta, has averaged 18. 8 points across 19 games with the Hawks and represents a veteran scoring option likely to see increased opportunities against his former team.
Other Hawks contributors who have factored into recent results include Nickeil Alexander-Walker, averaging a career-high 19. 9 points and shooting 37. 2% on three-pointers while averaging 3. 0 makes on 8. 2 attempts per night, and Onyeka Okongwu, who has recorded rebound overs in two of his last three appearances. On the Washington side, the roster limitations and season-long defensive struggles have translated into a measurable vulnerability in team assists allowed, which directly benefits opposing playmakers.
Forward outlook
The immediate milestone on the schedule is the Feb. 24 matchup itself, the third meeting between these clubs this season. Game-time adjustments and available rotations will be visible from the opening sequences at State Farm Arena, with broadcast coverage starting on Monumental Sports Network. Roster notes entering the game include Trae Young’s absence, the availability of Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum for Atlanta, D'Angelo Russell listed as out, and Cam Whitmore sidelined for the season with a shoulder issue.
What makes this notable is the intersection of Jalen Johnson’s elevated assist rate and Washington’s documented susceptibility to ball movement; the combination creates a clear performance metric to watch as the game unfolds. Confirmed performance trends and player availability will determine short-term outcomes, with no further schedule changes cited ahead of tipoff.
