The Phoenix Suns head to downtown Atlanta with momentum in their sails and a point to prove. Winners of three straight and framed by some as a clear playoff club after a midseason coaching jolt, the Suns meet a Hawks group that just snapped a four-game slide with a tight 124-122 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s a late-January test with real shape for both sides: Phoenix wants to keep stacking wins out East, while Atlanta needs to stabilize and climb back to .500.

Tip-off is listed at 7:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena. The teams have met once already this season, a wild November night that saw the Hawks erase a 22-point hole to steal the win. That comeback still lingers, and it adds a little extra edge to this rematch.

Injury Report: Who’s In, Who’s Out

Availability is the first headline of the day, especially on Atlanta’s side. The Hawks are short-handed up front and will again be without their biggest name in the middle.

• Kristaps Porzingis — OUT (Left Achilles Tendinitis; has missed six straight)
• N’Faly Dante — OUT (Right knee torn ACL; season-ending surgery expected)
• Zaccharie Risacher — OUT (Left knee contusion/inflammation/bone contusion; estimated return Jan. 26)
• Nikola Djurisic/Durisic — OUT/Questionable (Elbow)
• RayJ Dennis — Questionable (Two-way; right soleus strain)
• Caleb Houstan — Questionable (Two-way)
• Ajay Mitchell — OUT (Abdominal strain)
• Thomas Sorber — OUT (Right ACL surgical recovery)
• Topic Nikola — OUT (Right Achilles rupture, surgical recovery)

Phoenix has fewer concerns but a couple of moving pieces on the wing and in the backcourt.

• Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw sprain; will play in a mask)
• Nigel Hayes-Davis — QUESTIONABLE (Right ankle sprain)
• Ryan Dunn — QUESTIONABLE (Knee)
• Jamaree Bouyea — OUT (Concussion)
• Jalen Green — OUT (Hamstring)

The absences up front could tilt the physical battle. Without Porzingis and several depth bigs, Atlanta must lean on Onyeka Okongwu and wing-heavy lineups around Jalen Johnson. Phoenix, meanwhile, will hope its size and energy on the glass travels.

“If Porzingis sits again, can the Hawks keep Phoenix off the glass for 48 minutes?”

Projected Lineups and Matchups to Watch

Projected starters can shift close to game time, but here’s how it lines up as of the afternoon injury updates:

Suns: Devin Booker, Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Mark Williams.

Hawks: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Corey Kispert, Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis (listed starter but out); expect adjustments with more Okongwu and small-ball looks.

Two matchups jump off the page. First, Booker versus Atlanta’s rotating on-ball defenders. Booker is tracking around 23.1 points per game with 5.3 assists, and he’s been closer to 25 per game in recent form. Second, Johnson’s all-around playmaking against Phoenix’s forwards. Johnson’s line (about 22.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists) shows how much of the offense runs through him, especially with Porzingis out.

Form Guide and Recent Results

Atlanta’s last two outings tell a story of thin margins. A 110-112 loss to Milwaukee was followed by that breathless 124-122 home win over Memphis. As one recap captured the late-game nerves, “Two massive shots down the stretch from CJ McCollum and Jalen Johnson gave the Hawks enough breathing room to pull out a 124-122 win against Memphis.” However you frame it, Johnson’s poise late was decisive.

Phoenix has strung together three wins, including 116 points against Philadelphia and a 106-99 result at the Knicks. The Suns’ season averages are steady: 114.7 points, 43.2 rebounds, and 25.3 assists per game. That assist number reflects the cleaner structure under new leadership. As one analysis put it, “Phoenix was supposed to be among the worst teams in the league, but a huge coaching upgrade has given their roster an identity and they should be a playoff team when April rolls around.”

“Jalen Johnson looks like the engine now. Is Trae better as the closer than the starter of sets?”

Star Watch: Scorers, Spacers, and X-Factors

For Atlanta, Trae Young’s line (19.3 points, 8.0 assists) remains the heartbeat in late-clock moments, but Johnson’s rise has changed the shape of the offense. Okongwu’s production (around 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds) will be vital on the glass and in rim protection, and guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker (about 20.2 points) and Dyson Daniels (11.3 points, 6.4 boards, 6.2 dimes) give the Hawks size and secondary playmaking on the perimeter.

Phoenix brings balanced scoring beyond Booker. Dillon Brooks is hovering around 19.1 points (up near 20.5 lately), while Grayson Allen’s 16.3 points provide crucial spacing. Collin Gillespie’s 13.2 points offer a steady hand, and big man Mark Williams (10.5 points, 7.6 rebounds) can tilt the paint battle if he owns the defensive glass. Jordan Goodwin, available in a mask after a jaw sprain, adds toughness and rebounding from the guard spot (9.5 points, 5.2 rebounds).

What Will Decide It Tonight

1) The glass. Phoenix averages 43.2 rebounds a night and faces a Hawks team missing multiple frontcourt pieces. If the Suns control second chances and limit Atlanta’s runouts, they can keep the game on their terms.

2) Johnson’s usage and reads. With Porzingis out, Johnson’s playmaking is the hub. If Phoenix crowds his drives and forces tough kickouts, Atlanta must hit threes and cut hard behind the ball to keep flow.

3) Booker’s efficiency. The Suns are at their best when Booker scores within the offense and trusts the extra pass. His gravity should open up Allen and Brooks from deep and short closeouts for O’Neale.

4) Bench minutes. With both teams managing injuries, the second units will swing stretches. Look for Phoenix to press the shooting edge, while Atlanta tries to speed the game and attack early in the clock.

“If Phoenix hits 25+ assists again, Atlanta has to win the turnover battle to keep pace.”

When and Where to Watch

The Suns and Hawks meet at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with listings showing a 7:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. ET tip. Check local broadcasts and final league listings near game time, especially with the injury report updated in the late afternoon (11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. ET updates were noted earlier today).

The Bottom Line

The numbers say Phoenix has the steadier form and a clearer identity on both ends right now. But Atlanta’s November comeback is a reminder: at home, with Johnson handling and Trae closing, they can punch above their injury weight. If the Hawks hold serve on the glass and get enough from Okongwu around the rim, this can be another one-possession finish. If the Suns’ ball movement holds and their wings shoot to averages, their streak can stretch to four.

Simple game, simple keys: rebound, share it, finish late. The team that checks two of the three boxes should walk out with the win.