In a thrilling encounter, the Atlanta Hawks cruised to a hard-fought victory over the Phoenix Suns last night, winning 122-117 thanks to a sparkling performance from Trae Young, who scored an impressive 43 points. However, as they face the Chicago Bulls on the second night of a back-to-back, the Hawks find themselves in a tough situation, missing seven key players for this matchup.
Players missing include Young himself, Jalen Johnson, De’Andre Hunter, Zaccharie Risacher, Larry Nance Jr., Kobe Bufkin and Cody Zeller. Of note, Young and Risacher contributed in the game against the Suns, leaving the Hawks struggling to fill holes in their starting five.
Hunter’s absence is particularly unfortunate, as he was sidelined with left foot soreness against the Suns. Another crucial player missing is Johnson, who has been sidelined for the last four games with a right shoulder injury.
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As for the other absentees, Nance is still recovering from hand surgery, Bufkin has been out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury, and Zeller has yet to appear on the field this season. In response to this injury crisis, the Hawks brought in Keaton Wallace and Daeqwon Plowden from their G-League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, to bolster their roster.
It will be difficult for the Hawks to come away with a victory against the Bulls, and the onus will fall on players like Garrison Mathews, Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu to rise to the occasion and perform in their absence.
One injury that is being closely monitored is that of Jalen Johnson, who has missed several games due to his shoulder issue. Before the game against the Suns, head coach Quin Snyder gave a hopeful update, saying, “I think he’s progressing, and I hope we have him back soon.” Johnson was spotted shooting during a recent training session, suggesting his return might not be too far away.
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The Hawks have had their share of injuries this season, but they have managed to pull themselves together and maintain a respectable record. When at full strength, they display exceptional play on both ends of the court, and fans remain optimistic that they will return to form when all players are back on the floor.
In perspective, the Hawks have a tough schedule this month, with several back-to-back matchups against strong teams such as the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Hopefully these injuries are short-lived and all players can return to the field as quickly as possible.
