Key Hawks Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels are OUT against the Timberwolves with inflammation issues.
The Atlanta Hawks have just two games remaining before the NBA All-Star break, where they will be represented by Jalen Johnson, the team's only All-Star this season.
On Monday, Atlanta is taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road. The Hawks dropped their last contest to the Charlotte Hornets, and are now 26-28 on the season. Atlanta will take on Charlotte again on Wednesday with a chance to get some retribution.
Atlanta announced its injury report ahead of the matchup, ruling out Johnson with right knee inflammation and Dyson Daniels due to right ankle inflammation. Jonathan Kuminga is also listed with a left knee bone bruise and is not expected to make his Hawks debut until after the All-Star break.
The Hawks visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night before returning home Wednesday for a rematch against the Charlotte Hornets. Atlanta enters the week at 26–28 after dropping a 126–119 home loss to Charlotte on Saturday, a result that tightened an already crowded playoff picture.
Atlanta announced its injury report ahead of the matchup, ruling out Johnson with right knee inflammation and Dyson Daniels due to right ankle inflammation. Jonathan Kuminga is also listed with a left knee bone bruise and is not expected to make his Hawks debut until after the All-Star break.
With two core rotation players sidelined, Atlanta will lean more heavily on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zaccharie Risacher, CJ McCollum, and Onyeka Okongwu to stabilize both ends of the floor.
The Hawks have quietly been stronger away from home than at State Farm Arena, posting a 16–13 road record compared to a 10–15 mark at home. That trend could be tested in Minneapolis against a Timberwolves team searching for consistency heading into the break.
Minnesota also has two games remaining before All-Star Weekend and is attempting to snap out of a weeklong slump. The Timberwolves are coming off a 115–96 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, their third loss in four games. Defensive intensity has been a point of emphasis internally after public comments from Rudy Gobert, which coach Chris Finch later said he wished had remained in-house.
Minnesota’s top scorer, Anthony Edwards, pushed back on the idea that effort was the issue.
“I felt like we had good energy,” Edwards said. “I felt like the offense just wasn’t going for us, especially for myself. I have nothing to say about our defense. I thought we did a pretty good job, it’s just, we couldn’t score the ball.”
Atlanta, meanwhile, has won two of its past three games despite the loss to Charlotte. Johnson finished that game with 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, continuing a season in which he leads the Hawks at 23.4 points per game while shooting just over 50 percent from the field.
Johnson said his approach has been rooted in balance rather than forcing offense.
“I might miss my first couple shots in the game, and other guys might have it going, so that opens up for me to play-make,” he said. “Obviously, when the time is right, I pick my spots. I’ll be aggressive when I need to be.”
Monday’s matchup is the second and final meeting between the teams this season. Atlanta dominated the first, rolling to a 126–102 win on Dec. 31 behind Johnson’s 34 points on 15-for-22 shooting.
For Minnesota, Finch said restoring offensive rhythm will be critical.
“We’ve got to get our offense going,” he said. “We’ve got to get some kind of rhythm and speed to our offense. Try to finish these last two games strong before the break.”
For Atlanta, the urgency is just as real. The Hornets have won nine straight games and sit just a half-game behind the Hawks for ninth in the East, yet Atlanta is also only two games out of the seventh seed. With the margin that thin, these final two games before the break loom large — especially Wednesday’s rematch with Charlotte.