The winner of tonight’s game between the Bulls and the Hawks will have their season still alive, while the loser will head into the offseason.
Atlanta is 3-0 all-time in the play-in tournament. They won games against Charlotte and Cleveland two years ago and then lost to the No. 1 Miami Heat in five games. Last year, Atlanta got their revenge against Miami, beating them in the first playoff game, and then losing to the No. 2 Boston Celtics in six games. The Hawks were 1-2 against Chicago this season.
For Atlanta, they will be missing Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Saddiq Bey. Ayo Dosunmu and Andre Drummond are questionable for the Bulls.
So who wins tonight’s matchup and sets up another win-or-go-home scenario with the loser of Philadelphia and Miami?
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The Hawks have what it takes to be one of the best offenses in the NBA, but they have not really found that groove yet since Young has returned. Now, Atlanta has been pressing and facing a must-win scenario like they will tonight and I expect their offense to perform better because they are going to need them too. I think the offense is going to be the key tonight for Atlanta.
In their last matchup on April 1st, the Hawks shot 19-40 from three and that was the biggest difference in the game and why they won by 12 points. Atlanta had huge quarters in the 2nd and third to be able to pull away from the Bulls.
Atlanta is not going to have Vit Krejci in this game and he went 6-6 from three in the last game vs Chicago. Atlanta opted to not convert his two-way contract and will not have him, which could prove to be crucial. One thing to note about this game is that Atlanta is going to be very small without Johnson, Bey, Okongwu, or Krejci.
Trae Young has been awesome in all three play-in games that he has played in and overall, has been a solid playoff performer (though the play-in is not recognized as the playoffs). Outside of the series against the Heat two years ago, Young has played well in every playoff series/play-in game that he has been in. He is still working his way back from being injured, but I think Young is going to be asked to play big minutes tonight vs Chicago.
The other guy who will be playing huge minutes will be Dejounte Murray and I would not be surprised if the Hawks always have one of Young or Murray on the court at all times. Murray had to play huge minutes with Young out, but I don’t think that Quin Snyder is going to play either Kobe Bufkin or Trent Forrest tonight.
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While Young and Murray might be the Hawks’s best players in this game, De’Andre Hunter might be the most important Hawk for tonight and if the Hawks find a way to advance past this game. As mentioned earlier, Atlanta is going to be lacking size coming into this game and they are going to need Hunter to stay out of foul trouble. He is also going to be the team’s best defender and will spend plenty of time guarding DeMar DeRozan tonight, who might play all 48 minutes for the Bulls. Hunter can also be a big contributor on offense with his three-point shooting.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is likely going to be in the starting lineup and he has been one of the best players for the Hawks this season. He will be very important on the offensive end and will likely play a huge amount of minutes tonight.
Clint Capela was rested in the Hawks season finale vs the Pacers, but Atlanta will need him in this game. Both Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond (if he plays) are good rebounders and can beat the Hawks up in that area. Capela will be huge in terms of defense and rebounding and while the Hawks might not want to play him 35+ minutes, he might have too.
The Hawks’s rotation is the most interesting thing about them tonight. I think the starters are all going to play at least 30-35 minutes at worst, but who will provide the Hawks with bench relief? I think Bruno Fernando is certainly going to get minutes, but how many will be based on his performance. Fernando can bring energy and offense to some games, but he struggles on defense and the Bulls are going to go after him when he is on the floor. If he is holding up on that end of the court, I could see Fernando getting 20 minutes, that way Capela is not playing massive minutes. If he struggles defensively, Snyder will not have another choice but to play a lot of Capela.
I think Snyder will also opt to play Garrison Matthews and Wesley Matthews. Wesley Matthews is no longer on the injury report and I think Snyder is going to rely upon his veteran experience. Garrison Matthews is the Hawks’s best three-point shooter and they will need his offense in this game. He is not the best defender though and will also get picked on when he is on the court.
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I don’t think Snyder is going to play Bufkin or Forrest and the other guys who he could turn to are AJ Griffin, Mouhamed Gueye, and Seth Lundy. Griffin has played in the last two games after coming back from injury, Gueye has seen his first actual minutes as part of the rotation, and Lundy has barely played for the Hawks this season. Of all of the players listed above, I actually think Gueye is the most likely to see minutes. He has athleticism and length and could be used to guard DeRozan if needed, but he just does not have a lot of experience.
Griffin could be the best offensive option of the three, but he has defensive struggles and if he is not hitting his shots, it could be tough to rely on him out there. Keep an eye on what Snyder wants to do tonight.
For the Bulls, DeRozan is going to be the key tonight, but don’t forget about Coby White. White has been one of the most improved players in the NBA this season, but only shot 8-21 in the last game vs the Hawks. I would expect Murray to guard him tonight.
Either Dosunmu or Alex Caruso can get hot from three and have an effect on the game. Where Caruso is likely going to make his biggest impact is on the defensive end of the floor, where I expect he will spend a fair amount of time guarding Trae Young. Caruso is one of the best defenders in the NBA and will give Young all kinds of trouble, but Young will be looking for ways to shake him off and find ways to make an impact on the game.
Look for the Hawks to put Nikola Vucevic in a lot of pick-and-rolls tonight and make him work on the defensive end. If Drummond does not play, Vucevic is the only center the team really has and will have to play a lot. Even if Drummond does play, the Hawks will attack him on the other end of the floor as well.
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The Bulls bench is a huge question mark in this game, especially if Drummond does not play. The starters will likely see huge minutes for Chicago.
Viewing and Betting Information
Tip-off time: 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
Where to Watch: ESPN
Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be underdogs on the road tonight, as they are currently 3.5 point underdogs according to the latest odds from the SI Sportsbook and the over/under is set at 219.5.
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Predictions
If the Hawks were healthy, I would feel pretty good about picking them to win this game. I still think they can win this game, but it is going to be tough. They will have to be sharp offensively, keep Hunter out of foul trouble, have Trae Young be the best player on the floor, and get something out of their bench tonight. DeRozan could have a huge game tonight, but I think Coby White might be the most important player for Chicago tonight. Atlanta has success in these types of games, with Trae Young typically giving huge performances. He has another one tonight and the Braves find a way to get to Friday night and keep their season alive.
Final Score: Atlanta 113, Chicago 108 (ATL +3.5, Over)
It is a gloomy morning in Atlanta, but for Brad Guzan, it feels like a warm, sunny day. The veteran Atlanta United goalkeeper could have been planning his offseason, gone fishin’ for a few weeks while he waited for news of what the team will look like in 2025. Instead, he’s in his normal routine. He’s working. He’s preparing for a match. And he’s happy.
“It feels that much better when you’re training with a real purpose, hopefully for MLS Cup,” Guzan said to ESPN.
His stops on Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and the rest of Inter Miami’s superstar squad earned him the right to keep working. Atlanta won the second two matches of a three-game series in Round One of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Even in the first game, the 40-year-old Guzan looked like a goalkeeper in top form. He made eight saves in the defeat, then one in the home victory and nine in the critical clincher, a 3-2 win at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale that vanquished one of the best MLS teams of all time and sent Atlanta into the next round.
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Guzan and Atlanta United now are preparing for the Eastern Conference semifinal against Orlando City, three steps away from lifting MLS Cup.
“We’re probably not as shocked as people on the outside that we’re in this position,” Guzan said.
Not as shocked, but maybe still a bit surprised. After all, Inter Miami didn’t just have a lot of stars. The team put together the best-ever MLS regular season, earning 74 points to set a record for most points in a campaign.
And Atlanta United didn’t just have a rocky season. They fired manager Gonzalo Pineda after winning just four of their first 16 matches. They fired technical director Carlos Bocanegra after the summer transfer window. Even before Bocanegra’s departure, the team had started to strip the roster for parts, preparing for a winter overhaul with a new general manager and a new coach giving their input about the right players to bring to the club.
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Standout attacking midfielder Thiago Almada left for Botafogo for what the club said was a league-record fee. Consistent forward Giorgos Giakoumakis joined Liga MX side Cruz Azul. Atlanta also let go of homegrown product Caleb Wiley, who moved to Chelsea.
The Five Stripes received $42 million in combined transfer fees for the trio. The soccer-valuation site Transfermarkt assesses what’s left of Atlanta United’s squad at little more than $36 million.
The team wasn’t left entirely to fend for itself. Russian forward Aleksei Miranchuk arrived from Serie A and was an important part of Atlanta’s three playoff wins so far. They also added left back Pedro Amador, who has impressed and registered four assists in the playoffs.
Incoming players must beat out the existing players, though, something Guzan knows well. After an inconsistent 2023, the team signed Josh Cohen, a goalkeeper with UEFA Champions League experience after several seasons starting at Maccabi Haifa. Yet, Guzan kept the No. 1 job despite competition from the younger player.
“I’ve always said I don’t need an external motivator for me to go into work and train and ultimately go into games,” Guzan said. “I’m my biggest critic. I fully expect a club of Atlanta United’s level to bring in players to challenge at all positions — not just goalkeeper — and I’m not naive to think I’m going to play forever. But I do think I’m able to offer something to the group that is beneficial.
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“Obviously, last year wasn’t ideal from an individual standpoint, so it was a moment I wanted to try and rectify.”
Guzan should be able to consider it forgiven by Atlanta’s passionate fan base, one that has come to expect success since the team won MLS Cup in 2018, its second season in existence.
Since then, expectant fans have largely been disappointed. Atlanta returned to the Eastern Conference final in 2019 but hadn’t won a playoff series until their upset of Miami this month.
This year didn’t look like it would be the year that changed that, but the team started gathering momentum late in the year under interim manager Rob Valentino. They lost just once in their last six and secured victories over the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City in the last two weeks of the season to reach the postseason. Once there, they fought CF Montreal to a 2-2 draw with Guzan making a save in the penalty shootout to set up the first-round showdown with Inter Miami.
A May win in Fort Lauderdale, plus a September draw with the Herons in Atlanta helped boost belief that the Five Stripes could hang with the top seed.
“They had a great season, they set the point record and obviously have big-name players, but we went into it with confidence,” Guzan said.
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Some of that confidence came from Guzan. A goalkeeper who has been in big moments for the U.S. national team and with Aston Villa in the Premier League, it was evident early on in the series that Guzan wasn’t going to go quietly in the series. From the saves he made to the viral moment in which he ended up stuck in the net after a shove while Miami tried to chase the match, Guzan set the tone for the rest of the Atlanta team.
“I think he has an intense focus, almost a look in his eyes that ‘this is go time,’” Valentino told ESPN. “When the team can see something like that, I think it’s infectious.
“He makes a save, and he’s got some aura about him almost. It bleeds through the team. His voice alone is something the team feeds off of, and he’s been huge in this run of games.”
As the lowest seed left in the playoffs, Atlanta United now go on the road again to face Orlando City. The team will need to look to Guzan’s example — plus get performances from field players like the ones they got against Miami — if the journey will continue. Yet, there once again is internal belief that they can secure an upset.
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“Ultimately, what I’ve been telling the group is that it doesn’t matter what anybody said on the outside — good or bad,” Valentino said. “It wasn’t me fostering [confidence], it was us fostering it together and having internal belief in ourselves and what we can do on the field. The way we operate on a day-to-day basis? People can’t see that.”
While very few people expected Atlanta to get to that point, and even some on the inside had to be doubting their chances, the team feels they now have a clear goal — one that they are three wins away from securing.
“It has to be MLS Cup,” Guzan said. “It’s about trophies. It’s about winning, especially at this point in the season.”
It’s a goal that would keep him working well into December, keep the cold winter feeling plenty pleasant and would continue to shock just about everyone, maybe even Atlanta United themselves.
A new report on national and metro-specific rental prices showed that the costs to rent a one or two-bedroom apartment across the United States remains in flux.
However, while national rent prices on one-bedroom apartments was mostly unchanged, two-bedroom prices had started to drop. In Atlanta, the report from Zumper said prices for the metro had fallen 8.1% since this time last year.
In October, one-bedroom apartments in Atlanta had a median price of $1,600, while two-bedrooms had a median cost of $2,030.
Zumper said that makes Atlanta the 27th most expensive rental market in the country, on a ranking of the top 100 most expensive markets. Month-over-month, Zumper said rent prices in Atlanta for a one-bedroom apartment were unchanged, but had fallen by 6.4% compared to last year.
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When it comes to two-bedroom apartments, costs fell 2.3% in the past month and 8.1% compared to the year before.
Among state-level rents, Georgia was 2.8% higher than the national median, according to Zumper’s report and middle-of-the-pack for the seven swing states closely watched during the 2024 general election.
“Our rental data shows that 4 of the 7 key swing states, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, all experienced annual rent price growth rates that were larger than the national median of 2.3%,” Zumper said.
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Atlanta and Augusta were the only two cities in Georgia from Zumper’s top 100. Rental prices in Augusta were up across the board, as much as 28% for a two-bedroom apartment.
Atlanta United FC (10-14-10, ninth in the Eastern Conference during the regular season) vs. Orlando City SC (15-12-7, fourth in the Conference during the regular season)
Orlando, Florida; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Orlando City SC -152, Atlanta United FC +368; over/under is 2.5 goals
BOTTOM LINE: Jamal Thiare leads Atlanta United into a matchup with Orlando City after scoring two goals against Inter Miami.
Orlando is 12-10-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando is 10-1-0 when it scores three or more goals.
United is 13-10-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. United is seventh in the Eastern Conference with 167 shots on goal, averaging 4.9 per game.
The teams meet Sunday for the third time this season. United won the last meeting 2-1.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Facundo Torres has 16 goals and four assists for Orlando. Ramiro Enrique has four goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Saba Lobzhanidze has 10 goals and four assists for United. Thiare has three goals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Orlando: 6-2-2, averaging 2.0 goals, 5.2 shots on goal and 5.1 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.0 goal per game.
United: 4-2-4, averaging 1.8 goals, 4.1 shots on goal and 4.9 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.6 goals per game.
NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Orlando: Mason Stajduhar (injured).
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United: Edwin Mosquera (injured), Brooks Lennon (injured), Quentin Westberg (injured).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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