Jalen Johnson will not play against the Wizards with hip flexor irritation, and other top contributors like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Zaccharie Risacher are in jeopardy of not suiting up.
The Atlanta Hawks are set to square off against the Washington Wizards for the second time in as many games. However, they will do so without their All-Star forward Jalen Johnson.
Jalen Johnson was removed from Tuesday's win over Washington in the first quarter with a left hip flexor injury. The Hawks led wire-to-wire in that one, cruising to a 119-98 victory behind a sensational debut from newly-acquired Jonathan Kuminga.
The Hawks released their initial injury report Thursday afternoon, and Jalen Johnson is listed as inactive with left hip flexor irritation.
Atlanta might be even more shorthanded in Thursday's contest, as Zaccharie Risacher (right hip contusion) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (left foot sprain) both popped up on the report as being questionable.
If the Hawks are without Risacher, Alexander-Walker, and Jalen Johnson, securing a victory over the lowly (and possibly tanking) Wizards will not be as easy as one would originally think. Worth noting — there remain rumors that Trae Young could make his Washington debut on Thursday against his former team. Young has not played since December 27th due to a right knee MCL strain but has reportedly resumed basketball activities since being traded to the Wizards last month. His potential presence adds an unpredictable wrinkle to what Atlanta might have assumed would be a straightforward night.
Jonathan Kuminga had a strong contribution in his Hawks debut with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 25 minutes, and his minutes will be relied upon again on Thursday. In fact, Kuminga could find himself in the Hawks' starting rotation with Jalen Johnson being out and Risacher being questionable. Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, was acquired from Golden State in exchange for oft-injured Kristaps Porzingis, and wasted no time making an impression on his new teammates.
"You come to the Hawks, you might have an amazing debut," Alexander-Walker said. "He came on, played with force, played with pace. He did exactly what we needed from him and it's good to see."
Kuminga himself has embraced the fresh start, crediting his time on the sideline with an injury for helping him get up to speed with Atlanta's system.
"I'm trying to be a student of the game as much as I can be, learning from other players here from J.J. and Niko, just asking them questions," Kuminga said. "Once I get out there, things just feel good and look normal."
Either way, the Hawks need this hip flexor issue for Jalen Johnson to not be all that serious. Quin Snyder downplayed it following the Hawks' win on Tuesday, but the hope is that Johnson does not have to miss more than this one game.
The Hawks are at State Farm Arena again on Thursday and will conclude their five-game home stretch with the Portland Trail Blazers coming into town on Sunday. After that, Atlanta will head on the road for one game to face the Milwaukee Bucks before returning back to State Farm for another five-game home stretch.
Atlanta is still looking to even up its home record and get back to the .500 plateau. The Hawks are currently 29-31 and 2.5 games back of the Miami Heat for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference — with Charlotte sitting just a half-game behind them at tenth. Every game in this stretch matters.