Preview: Wizards at Hawks ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Atlanta Hawks, clinging to the final Play-In Tournament spot in the Eastern Conference, will look to capitalize on a favorable matchup when they host the struggling Washington Wizards on Thursday night at State Farm Arena. The Hawks (28-31) have won two of their last three, including a 115-104 victory over Brooklyn on Sunday. Their success is increasingly fueled by forward Jalen Johnson, who is playing at an All-Star level. Over his last 10 games, Johnson has averaged a remarkable 24.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and 8.9 assists, recording six triple-doubles in that dominant stretch. Atlanta will aim to continue its recent mastery of Washington. The teams just met on Tuesday, with the Hawks securing a win. Atlanta has also taken two of three meetings this season, including a 131-116 victory in Washington on Dec. 6. The Wizards (16-40) enter on a steep downturn, having lost five of their last six games. They are coming off a 129-112 home loss to Charlotte on Sunday. Defense remains a persistent issue; Washington has allowed 129 or more points in four of those six losses. A bright spot for the Wizards has been the recent play of second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly. He is averaging 11.7 points over his last 10 contests and is coming off a 17-point effort in just 17 minutes against Charlotte. His defensive activity, including multiple blocks in three of his last five games, will be tested against Atlanta’s high-powered attack. For the Hawks, staying focused against a team well outside the playoff picture is critical before a difficult stretch of their schedule that includes upcoming games against Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Dallas. The Wizards, meanwhile, begin a brief two-game road trip looking to find consistency in a season defined by long losing streaks. Their last victory away from home was Feb. 5 in Detroit. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.