Hawks try to shore up defense, finish season sweep of Hornets

The Atlanta Hawks took a big misstep during the weekend.

They’ll try to avoid another detour against a similar type of opponent.

Atlanta visits the Charlotte Hornets, who have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, on Tuesday night.

The Hawks (32-36) are hanging around playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, so taking care of business against the Hornets is almost essential.

Atlanta’s 122-114 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, who own the third-worst mark in the East, on Sunday didn’t help. Atlanta surrendered 66 second-half points.

“Our defense was the issue,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “We just didn’t get stops on possessions we needed to.”

The Hornets (17-50) lost 123-88 on Sunday to the host Los Angeles Clippers, allowing at least 30 points in each of the first three quarters.

That result came despite Charlotte having a full roster of healthy players, at least among those who aren’t out with long-term situations. The Hornets received 18 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists from Mark Williams and 16 points from LaMelo Ball against the Clippers. That duo is considered a key part of the team’s young core.

It wasn’t quite up to Ball’s previous game when he delivered 27 points and 15 assists at San Antonio. The Hornets are hoping to see constant high production from Ball if he can string together a strong stretch to complete the season. Ball (wrist) is probable for Tuesday’s game.

That visit to Los Angeles was part of a revamped schedule to make up a postponed game stemming from January’s wildfires in California. Before that, Charlotte had won three of its last four games.

Yet the constant evolving of the Hornets’ roster was evident in their most-recent outing. DaQuan Jeffries logged a team-high 36 minutes in his eighth start of the season, while Nick Smith Jr. came off the bench and played 20 minutes.

Smith’s production has wavered. He had nine points Sunday and seven points last week at Atlanta, but in between those games he pumped in 26 points at San Antonio on Friday.

There’s lots for the Hornets to consider with how Smith can help.

“He has grown as a defender,” Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. “He has grown offensively. He has become more than just a catch-and-shoot guy. Just a ton of growth and I know that there’s more to come, too.”

Jeffries posted 20 points last week in a 123-110 loss against Atlanta, though he didn’t play in two earlier meetings with the Hawks.

Atlanta is 3-0 against Charlotte this season, with five-point and three-point victories in the fall. Then the Hawks handled the Hornets last Wednesday, when guard Trae Young racked up 35 points.

Young (Achilles) is listed as probable and his availability will be crucial for this final meeting of the season against the Hornets. He is averaging 24 points per game this season, but in three matchups with Charlotte he has scored 29 points per outing.

Atlanta has lost three of its last four road games, falling to 15-18 away from home this season.

The Hawks were without Caris LeVert on Sunday because of knee soreness and he will sit out again Tuesday..