NBA: Happy Jonathan Kuminga aims to help Hawks sweep Wizards

Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga and the team hope to keep the momentum going Thursday night when they host the Washington Wizards in the second half of their two-game series.

The Hawks dominated from start to finish, beating the Wizards 119-98 on Tuesday. Kuminga made a memorable Atlanta debut, posting a season-high 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, was acquired from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis. After falling out of favor with Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Kuminga is embracing the fresh start in Atlanta.

"Everybody is going to have their own opinion and I don't really pay attention to what anybody says," Kuminga said. "The window is very small for us to stack up all these wins and we're going to get as many as we can. I think that's my main focus—talking about how to play collectively and get those wins. That's all that matters."

Veteran Nickeil Alexander-Walker praised Kuminga’s debut.

"You come to the Hawks, you might have an amazing debut," Alexander-Walker said. "He came on, played with force, played with pace. He did exactly what we needed from him, and it's good to see."

Before his injury, Kuminga averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 20 games. He missed the previous six games with a left knee bone bruise but used the time to get to know his teammates.

"I'm trying to be a student of the game as much as I can, learning from other players here from J.J. (Jalen Johnson) and Niko (Alexander-Walker), just asking them questions," Kuminga said. "Once I get out there, things just feel good and look normal."

Kuminga saw more playing time than expected on Tuesday after Jalen Johnson exited with a left hip flexor injury. Johnson will be re-evaluated Thursday.

The Wizards were without Alex Sarr, who is dealing with a right hamstring strain. His status will also be updated Thursday.

There is speculation that Trae Young could make his Washington debut Thursday against his former team. Young has been sidelined since Dec. 27 with a right knee MCL strain but has resumed basketball activities after being traded to Washington last month.

Defensively, Bilal Coulibaly continues to stand out for the Wizards. On Tuesday, he had six rebounds, four blocks, and two steals, along with eight points and four assists.

"Every night, I've got a different matchup. Sometimes I guard point guards, sometimes power forwards. That's what I do," Coulibaly said. "I get the ball more so I can create for myself and my teammates."

Thursday’s matchup will conclude the four-game season series between the two clubs, with Atlanta leading 2-1.

The Hawks, currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, are aiming to improve their playoff positioning. They are 2½ games behind eighth-place Miami and just a half-game ahead of 10th-place Charlotte. The Wizards, with 16 wins, sit near the bottom of the East, one ahead of Indiana and Brooklyn.

—Field Level Media/Reuters