Atlanta @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 27, 2018 ) Washington 129, Atlanta 104

John Wall is rounding into shape after his recent return from knee surgery but he will likely be held out of the lineup when the Washington Wizards host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Coach Scott Brooks will make the decision at some point on Friday but he wants to be cautious with the five-time All-Star point guard with the playoffs looming.

Wall contributed 28 points and 14 assists in Thursday's 119-115 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers but also committed six turnovers, including one in the final seconds when Cleveland rookie Cedi Osman intercepted the pass to hand the Wizards their seventh setback in the past nine games. "I tried to find a teammate for a wide open shot," Wall told reporters afterward. "You just give that guy credit for making a great defensive stop." The Hawks have dropped 13 of their last 15 games and need to win one of their final three games to avoid the second 60-loss campaign in franchise history. But losing helps Atlanta in another way as its draft lottery odds will improve if either the Memphis Grizzlies or Phoenix Suns - or both - finish with a better record.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE HAWKS (22-57): Atlanta gave a porous effort while being trounced 115-86 by the visiting Miami Heat on Wednesday in the second outing of a back-to-back between the teams. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer could see the problem - "Energy-wise, our gas tank hit empty," he told reporters - as his squad was outscored 62-39 in the second half. Small forward Taurean Prince bounced back with 20 points in 24 minutes after back-to-back five-point efforts, the latter one on Tuesday when Budenholzer benched him for the second half.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (42-37): Thursday's outing was Wall's third since returning from knee surgery and Washington was clicking - leading by 17 points with 7 1/2 minutes remaining before collapsing. Shooting guard Bradley Beal flirted with his first career triple-double by recording 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists but was miffed about how the team could play so well in the third quarter before falling apart late. "When we get stops, we're one of the best teams in the league in terms of scoring," Beal told reporters afterward. "The third quarter was big for us. The fourth - we have to be a lot better."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Hawks have dropped four straight visits to Washington, including a 113-94 decision on Nov. 11.

2. Washington SF Kelly Oubre Jr. was 2-of-9 shooting against Cleveland and is just 8-of-42 over the past four games.

3. Atlanta rookie G Tyler Dorsey is averaging 15.5 points over the past four contests.

PREDICTION: Wizards 104, Hawks 97