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RJ Barrett's Status Revealed For Tonight's Game vs Atlanta

Originally posted on Atlanta Hawks on SI
By Jackson Caudell | Last updated Feb 23, 2024 6:21 PM ET

The Hawks are at home tonight for their first game since the All-Star Break and they are hosting the Toronto Raptors. It is the final time that these two teams are playing and Raptor's forward RJ Barrett was questionable coming into tonight's game due to a knee injury. The Raptors just revealed his status for tonight.

Barrett is going to be out for tonight's game vs the Hawks.

RJ Barrett is out tonight against the Atlanta Hawks (left knee, injury management), per Raptors PR.

My guess is Bruce Brown starts but could be fun to see who else could get a shot.
— Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh) February 23, 2024

Atlanta comes into tonight's game 3rd in PPG, 23rd in field goal percentage, 6th in three-point attempts, 20th in three-point percentage, 4th in free throw attempts, 1st in offensive rebounding, and 14th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are 11th in points per 100 possessions, 18th in effective field goal percentage, 9th in turnover percentage, 5th in offensive rebounding, and 9th in free throw rate.

It will be interesting to see the starting lineup for the Hawks. Clint Capela is not on the injury report and seems to be ready to come back from his injury, but will be on a minutes restriction. With Onyeka Okongwu out with an injury, that will likely mean big minutes from Bruno Fernando.

Another thing to keep an eye on tonight for Atlanta is De'Andre Hunter. He has been coming off the bench for the Hawks since returning from injury, but Quin Snyder could decide to move Hunter back to the starting lineup at some point.

The Raptors are 20th in PPG allowed, 23rd in field goal percentage allowed, 22nd in three-point percentage, and 16th in defensive rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Raptors are 22nd in points allowed per 100 possessions and 21st in effective field goal percentage.

Toronto's offense has improved since acquiring these players, but it is still not one of the league's best, although that tends not to matter when going up against the Hawks's defense. The Raptors are 19th in PPG, 14th in field goal percentage, 21st in three-point attempts, 23rd in three-point percentage, 15th in free throw attempts, 7th in offensive rebounding, and 17th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Toronto is 20th in points per 100 possessions, 16th in effective field goal percentage, 12th in turnover percentage, 14th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 22nd in free throw rate.

The Hawks' defense is right there at the bottom of the league's worst defenses. Atlanta is 29th in PPG allowed, 29th in field goal percentage allowed, 27th in three-point percentage allowed, and 19th in defensive rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 27th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 29th in effective field goal percentage.

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This article first appeared on Atlanta Hawks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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