Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2024

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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Related Topics:Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls Featured Hawks vs Bulls Hawks vs Bulls Predictions NBA NBA Play-In Tournament Trae Young

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Atlanta, GA

Critically missing: 11-year-old missing in Atlanta after running away

Published

55 minutes ago

July 10, 2026

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Critically missing: 11-year-old missing in Atlanta after running away

article

Omari James. Photos provided by Atlanta police

ATLANTA – Atlanta police are asking for the public’s help locating 11-year-old Omari James, who has been classified as critically missing.

What we know:

Investigators said Omari ran away from his home around 9:30 p.m. Thursday after getting into an argument with his parents over his cell phone.

Police said Omari was last seen wearing a black shirt, red, white and blue shorts, black Nike slides and a Nike ski hat.

What you can do:

Anyone who has seen Omari or knows where he may be is asked to call 911 or contact the Atlanta Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Atlanta, GA

Georgia Secretary of State opens investigation into voter registration mailers sent to deceased residents

Published

11 hours ago

July 9, 2026

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Georgia Secretary of State opens investigation into voter registration mailers sent to deceased residents

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Thursday that his office has opened an investigation into Ready to Register and other third-party organizations after reports that voter registration mailers were sent to deceased Georgians and other ineligible recipients.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, election officials have received numerous complaints about voter registration solicitations being mailed to people who have died. In one unusual case cited by the office, a deceased family dog reportedly received one of the mailers.

State officials said they are reviewing whether the mailings violate Georgia law or otherwise undermine confidence in the state’s election system.

ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 09: A stack of “I’m a Georgia Voter” stickers are seen at a polling location on June 9, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

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The Secretary of State’s Office said third-party voter registration groups frequently conduct mass mail campaigns ahead of major elections but often rely on commercial databases that can contain outdated or inaccurate information, unlike Georgia’s official voter registration system.

“Groups like this highlight the unreliability of commercial data,” Raffensperger said in a statement. “Georgia maintains one of the cleanest voter rolls in the nation through continuous list maintenance and citizenship verification. These outside organizations don’t use those standards. Instead, they flood mailboxes with inaccurate solicitations that confuse voters and waste election officials’ time.”

Raffensperger also thanked voters who alerted his office to the mailings.

“I want to thank the voters who have flagged the inaccurate mailings and sent them to our office,” he said. “Whether checking their ballots for accuracy or keeping their own registration information up to date, voters are a crucial line of defense in election security.”

Georgia officials said the issue mirrors problems recently identified in North Carolina, where election officials warned residents about similar mailings from Ready to Register. According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, North Carolina officials said the organization mailed registration forms to deceased individuals, used outdated forms, listed incorrect election office addresses and included QR codes that raised privacy concerns.

Raffensperger criticized the mass mailing campaigns, saying they create confusion while increasing the workload for local election offices.

“Whether intentional or simply reckless, these mail campaigns operate like a grift — raising money and generating activity while shifting the costs onto taxpayers, election officials, and voters,” Raffensperger said. “Georgia taxpayers should not have to clean up the mess created by organizations that prioritize volume over accuracy.”

The Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging Georgians to verify their voter registration through the state’s My Voter Page and says voters who are already registered at their current address should disregard unsolicited voter registration mailers.

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Atlanta, GA

Mosquitoes in Atlanta neighborhood test positive for West Nile Virus

Published

21 hours ago

July 9, 2026

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Mosquitoes in Atlanta neighborhood test positive for West Nile Virus

Mosquitoes in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta have tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to Fulton County health officials.

Fulton County Board of Health Environmental Health mosquito control staff say the mosquitoes were tested following trapping in Fulton County.

“Mosquitoes can be dangerous if infected and may pose a serious health risk to people in our area,” Environmental Health Director at the Fulton County Board of Health, Brandon Leftwich, said in a statement from the agency. “We want to make sure communities are aware and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.”

Grant Park is in southeast Atlanta, south of Old Fourth Ward and west of East Atlanta.

Here’s what to know.

What is West Nile Virus?

West Nile Virus is the illness caused by infections from a pathogen in the Flaviviridae family. Mosquitoes are hosts for the pathogen, meaning they can spread it to people and other animals without dying.

It is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the contiguous United States, infecting more than 2,000 people each year. About 1,300 people develop a severe illness, and more than 130 people die annually in the U.S. from the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It spreads during mosquito season, or the period between June and October each year. Infections typically peak in late August and early September.

Many people infected may never show symptoms, and others will only experience mild, flu-like symptoms. It can take between 2 and 6 days after a mosquito bite to feel poorly, and then people may experience headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Those with mild illness can recover completely, but some fatigue and weakness can last much longer, even weeks or months.

In cases of severe illness, West Nile Virus attacks their central nervous system and can result in hospitalization or death. Patients may experience a very high fever, headaches, neck pain, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness and other serious symptoms. Recovery can take weeks or months, and some effects could become permanent.

How is West Nile Virus treated?

There is no medicine that can treat West Nile Virus, so those with mild symptoms can take over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen to manage pain, fever or headaches. Those with West Nile Virus should not take ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the CDC. Patients should stay hydrated and take lots of rest to let your body fight the virus and recover.

Those with severe illness may need intravenous fluids, pain medication and nursing care at the hospital level, though there is still no medication that can be taken to cure the infection.

It is believed that those who have been infected by West Nile Virus develop a lifelong immunity or protection, meaning they can’t get the virus again, according to the CDC.

How to prevent mosquito bites

Fulton County health officials recommend following the “5Ds of mosquito bite prevention” to keep yourself safe from mosquito-borne illnesses.

Dusk/Dawn: Avoid being outside during periods when mosquitoes are most active, including in the early morning and as the sun is setting.
Dress: Loose-fitting clothes and items with long sleeves or pants will reduce the amount of exposed skin for a mosquito bite and make it difficult for a mosquito to bite through clothes.
DEET: Insect repellant should contain DEET. It is the most effective ingredient in mosquito repellant.
Drain: Standing water is a great place for mosquitoes to breed, so make sure to dump out water from buckets, barrels, flowerpots and tarps outside that could harbor mosquito larvae. You should also cut overgrown grass or weeds.
Doors: While it might be nice for a breeze to pass through your house in the evenings, make sure doors and windows are closed and sealed to keep mosquitoes out of the house.

Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

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