Hawks face their own injury scares as NBA absences pile up

The Atlanta Hawks entered Saturday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans hoping to avoid the significant injuries already disrupting teams across the NBA. They finished it facing uncertainty surrounding two important contributors.

Jalen Johnson exited with a left ankle injury, while Jock Landale left with a left hip injury. Neither returned to the game, leaving Atlanta awaiting more clarity on both players.

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Their departures brought an uncomfortable league-wide storyline directly into focus for the Hawks. Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant are among the notable players sidelined early this season. Before teams have reached even 10 games, availability has already become a major concern.

Now Atlanta has its own injuries to monitor. Neither player’s absence from the remainder of Saturday’s game establishes how much additional time, if any, he will miss. Still, seeing Johnson and Landale leave the same game creates understandable concern for a team trying to find its footing.

The Hawks know how quickly an injury can change their outlook. During the 2024–25 season, Johnson suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required season-ending surgery. That setback interrupted his development and forced Atlanta to adjust without one of its most important players.

Saturday’s ankle injury should not be equated with that previous diagnosis. However, the memory reinforces why Johnson’s availability carries so much weight. His scoring, rebounding and playmaking influence nearly every part of Atlanta’s offense, making his presence difficult to replace through a simple lineup change.

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Landale’s situation also matters. He provides an experienced option behind Onyeka Okongwu, giving Quin Snyder another interior presence and a different offensive look. Any absence would test a frontcourt already operating without Henri Veesaar and Mouhamed Gueye.

Atlanta added depth this offseason, but losing multiple contributors at the same position would stretch those resources. Depending on the updates, other frontcourt players could be…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/hawks-face-own-injury-scares-131500500.html

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Publish date : 2026-11-02 13:15:00

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