Atlanta

Hawks

Okongwu and Kuminga sitting out Sunday’s regular-season finale would free up rotation minutes for multiple players. That includes Zaccharie Risacher, whose playing time has decreased with Kuminga in the fold, Asa Newell and Mouhamed Gueye.

Johnson and McCollum may sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale, as the Hawks can finish no worse than sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, even with a loss. If available, Jonathan Kuminga is one player who may take on a heavier workload on Sunday, which makes him an intriguing option in active fantasy leagues.

Alexander-Walker and Daniels potentially sitting out Sunday’s game would free up rotation minutes for multiple players, including Gabe Vincent and Keaton Wallace. Neither is a particularly safe streaming option for managers in active fantasy leagues.

For the second time in his career, Daniels was able to record a triple-double, with the other coming back in January. He also recorded at least one steal for a 16th straight game, and in 13 of those, he swiped at least two steals. His shot has been worse this year, and he hasn’t been quite as dominant with the steals, but Daniels is averaging career highs in both rebounds and assists, which has helped him to still be a fantasy stud. He’ll continue to stuff the stat sheet as the Hawks enter the playoffs.

McCollum led Atlanta in scoring, though he did most of his work before the break. 25 of his 29 points came before halftime, which helped the Hawks take a 61-48 lead. They broke the game open in the third, which limited McCollum’s minutes for the rest of the game. This was his third-highest scoring game since he was traded to Atlanta, and it was enough to help them clinch a playoff spot. Now, they’ll need to win the regular season finale against the Heat to clinch the fifth seed in the East. Regardless, McCollum has been a strong addition, and he’ll be a pivotal piece for the Hawks in the postseason.

After playing seven minutes in Monday’s loss to the Knicks, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft did not play at all on Wednesday. Jonathan Kuminga has seemingly absorbed the minutes that once went to Risacher. Logging 30 minutes, Kuminga finished with 24 points (11-of-20 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), six rebounds, three assists and two three-pointers. An afterthought in fantasy basketball since the All-Star break, it’s fair to wonder about Risacher’s future in Atlanta, especially if he racks up more DNP-CDs during the postseason.

After scoring 20 points or more in two of his first three games as a Hawk, Kuminga entered Wednesday having scored 16 or fewer in each of his last 11 appearances. Injuries have been a factor, but the former Warriors lottery pick has also battled inconsistency. Kuminga’s performance against the Cavaliers was a glimpse of what he’s capable of when locked in, and the Hawks will need to see that version consistently during the postseason.

The betting favorite for Most Improved Player honors had another good night on Wednesday, shooting over 50 percent from the field in the 122-116 defeat. Alexander-Walker has scored 20 points or more in four straight and eight of his last nine appearances. Atlanta, which needs to win one of its next two games to avoid the Play-In tournament, hosts the Cavaliers on Friday.

Since he was limited to eight points in a March 27 loss to the Celtics, Okongwu has reached double figures in each of his last five appearances. Against the Cavaliers, the Hawks’ starting center shot 70 percent from the field despite the challenging frontcourt matchup. However, Okongwu did not offer much on the glass or as a rim protector, something that would need to change if the Hawks and Cavaliers meet in the first round of the playoffs.

McCollum nearly helped Atlanta make an insane comeback in the final seconds. They trailed by four with five seconds left, and McCollum knocked down a triple to make it a one-point game. Jalen Brunson hit two free throws, and then McCollum banked in a shot from half court, except it was still on his fingertips. Atlanta lost, but McCollum still posted a strong line, which included four stocks. He has had unexpected success as the replacement for Trae Young, which has helped the Hawks be one of the best teams in the league since the All-Star break.