Hawks face Rockets with key players sidelined. Okongwu suffers a dental fracture, Johnson nursing calf tightness. Atlanta battles for .500 with a depleted roster.
The Atlanta Hawks are pushing for their fifth straight victory Thursday night against the Houston Rockets, but they’ll be doing it shorthanded — and under circumstances that are hard to ignore.
Atlanta enters the matchup without Onyeka Okongwu, who suffered a painful and unusual injury late in Wednesday’s win over Boston. Okongwu took an elbow to the face during the fourth quarter, resulting in what the team officially described as a dental fracture. The contact occurred as Jaylen Brown attempted to protect the ball, with his elbow catching Okongwu on the right side of the face and drawing a flagrant foul.
The aftermath was impossible to miss. When Okongwu stepped to the free-throw line, the damage to his teeth was immediately visible. Once he returned to the locker room, he shared an up-close look that made clear just how serious the injury was. Still, the sixth-year big man appeared more focused on the result than the injury itself, prioritizing the win over the personal setback.
Atlanta provided an update on Okongwu’s status Thursday morning.
“Forward/Center Onyeka Okongwu, who left last night’s game at Boston after sustaining a dental fracture during the fourth quarter, underwent a successful dental procedure this morning in Atlanta. He will be listed as out for tonight’s game vs. Houston and Saturday’s game at Indiana, and his status will be day-to-day moving forward.”
Hawks head coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding what comes next medically, while still finding a moment of levity after the game, noting that his center is “still handsome.”
Brown also addressed the collision afterward, making it clear there was no malicious intent.
“Just a basketball play. It’s unfortunate,” Brown said. “Okongwu’s a good player.”
He later added perspective from his own experience.
“I know from my own experiences with a fractured face and chipped teeth that shit is a hassle,” Brown said. “So, wasn’t intentional. I know it’s gonna be a long day at the dentist. Hopefully he has a good recovery.”
From a basketball standpoint, the timing isn’t ideal. Atlanta has won four straight and can finally reach the .500 mark with a win, but doing so without Okongwu means more responsibility spread across the rotation. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Luke Kennard, and Dyson Daniels will again be leaned on to carry the offense and maintain momentum.
In the frontcourt, Christian Koloko has already seen expanded minutes in recent games and is likely to be relied upon even more against Houston. His ability to hold the interior defensively and stay out of foul trouble will be critical as Atlanta adjusts on the fly.
Typically, back-to-back games tilt the advantage toward the more rested team, but that edge is neutralized here. The Rockets are also playing their second game in two nights, and Atlanta gets the benefit of being at home. With a chance to improve a 9–13 home record and continue climbing the standings, the Hawks still have plenty to play for — even as they wait for Okongwu to recover and rejoin the lineup.