WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards’ locker room was reduced to an eerie silence Monday night, with most players quickly rushing for the exits after a 137-129 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The team’s injured star, John Wall, rolled out of the training room in his street clothes and a walking boot, a painful reminder of how shorthanded the Wizards have become during this slog of a season.

But Monday night’s performance had less to do with Washington’s medical issues and more to do with the simple fundamental shortcomings this team has displayed on a consistent basis. The Wizards once again came out lethargic and spotted the Hawks an early 19-point lead. They were once again a mess on the defensive end, giving up 20 3-pointers on 41 attempts. They missed crucial free throws down the stretch, and they were outrebounded by 12 by one of the Eastern Conference’s worst teams, one that had been on the road for 14 consecutive days and whose coach, Lloyd Pierce, admitted he was tired before the game. It was Washington coach Scott Brooks who seemed tired afterward, because he was answering the same questions about his team’s defensive effort - questions that have been asked all season.

“It’s something that we’ve been trying to figure out all year. We’ve been an inconsistent defensive team,” said Brooks, whose team trailed by as many as 18 in the second half but pulled within six with just under five minutes to play. Washington then got the lead down to five with just over three minutes remaining, and it was within four with 89 seconds left.

Shortly after each surge, the Wizards failed to close out on Hawks wing Taurean Prince, who answered with one of his five 3-pointers in each case and finished with 21 points.

“They made tough shots,” Wizards forward Jeff Green said. “A lot of tough shots. We need to be more aggressive putting them off the line, but we have to give credit where credit is due.”

The Wizards (22-31) had been one of the NBA’s most improved defensive teams in January, banding together with more consistency in the wake of Wall’s season-ending injury to pull within striking distance of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But they have lost more ground over the past week, including with losses to lowly Cleveland and these Hawks (18-35), and now they must try to regroup before Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee, which owns the best record in the NBA.

The Hawks, who had nine players score in double figures, scored 35 points in the first quarter to open a 15-point lead through 12 minutes, running circles around Washington’s defense with a guard-heavy lineup for much of the early going. It wasn’t until Wizards guard Bradley Beal picked up his third foul with just under nine minutes remaining in the second quarter that Washington was sparked by his replacement, Jordan McRae, a two-way-contract player who made the most of the opportunity. Washington had plenty of offense Monday night; Beal finished with 27 points despite his early foul trouble, Green had 26 off the bench, Trevor Ariza added 25 and McRae had 20.

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