Kingston Flemings Earns First Career Start as Updated Hawks Starting Lineup Faces Wizards

Flemings gets his first start

Jalen Johnson will miss a second straight game because of an ankle injury. His absence also means he will not face former teammate Trae Young in the nation’s capital.

Dort returns to starting five

Lu Dort started for Atlanta when Johnson missed Monday’s game against the Pacers, and he will start again. Dort brings perimeter defense and is coming off his best shooting performance of the year: 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range, with a team-best plus-11 while on the court.

Atlanta will need Dort to defend on the perimeter and help on the boards as it faces the Wizards’ threat inside. The article points to Anthony Davis as a player looking to dominate in the paint.

Bench faces another test

Atlanta’s bench struggled Monday with Johnson and Jock Landale out. Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor are likely to again handle backup power forward and center minutes, and both need to improve, particularly Newell.

Newell had no points in 17 minutes and finished minus-7. Flemings is back from suspension, and Aaron Wiggins is also expected to be in the lineup; Wiggins is described as one of the Hawks’ more consistent players this season despite an off shooting game against the Pacers.

Kispert and Atlanta’s goal

Corey Kispert could see minutes against his former team after getting his first substantial action Monday. He made four three-pointers but was minus-9 and struggled defensively. Atlanta is aiming for its second consecutive win and to move above .500. The article’s listed lineup names Kingston Flemings, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, which conflicts with its report that Johnson is out and Flemings is starting for McCollum.