Hawks' injury report gives fans hope as they look to break seven-game losing streak

Kristaps Porzingis and Jalen Johnson will look to make their returns from ten and one-game absences, respectively, in the Atlanta Hawks’ Wednesday afternoon matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Trae Young is the only rotation player on the pre-game injury report, listed with a questionable status for a right quad contusion.

This news is just the momentum the Hawks needed. All three stars missed Monday night’s matchup against the Thunder, but perhaps this was the opportunity everyone required to reset the horrendous form that has struck the team.

The New Year's Eve game could be just what Atlanta needs

The Hawks have been porous on defense in December, yet the decline occurred before Young returned from his 22-game absence to a right knee sprain. The crux of the problem sinking the Hawks is a lack of size and quality depth at the big man positions.

Everyone – including the Hawks – expected Porzingis to miss some time this season. Atlanta GM Onsi Saleh prepared for the star center’s shaky health record by adding two center-sized players to the roster: N’Faly Dante and Asa Newell. Unfortunately, this duo will not be the short-term solution. Dante tore his ACL, and Newell still has significant weight to add if he wants to be a full-time NBA center. 

Atlanta has resorted to a depth chart of Oneyka Okongwu, Mouhamed Gueye, and Newell. While these three players are immensely talented (and the latter two deserve more minutes), they do not possess the size and physicality required to have a strong interior presence. Consequently, the team has struggled in a changing NBA landscape that heavily values rebounding and rim offense.

Porzingis will instantly ease the Hawks’ most critical weakness upon his return. He isn’t just a dangerous three-level scorer – he is also a towering rim protector at 7'2. While he is a weak rebounder at the center position, his mere presence perfectly complements Atlanta’s physical wings (Johnson, Gueye, Okongwu) in the overarching battle on the glass. 

Johnson’s (and Young’s potential) return is perhaps more important to the Hawks overall but less noteworthy in the arc of the season. In fact, their absence prompted a shockingly hot performance from the rest of the team as they took on the 2025 Finals-winning Thunder. The bench squad shot 46.3% on three for a franchise-record 25 three pointers made in the unexpectedly thrilling showdown. 

Perhaps this is what Atlanta needed to get out of their low point of this season. The whole team was drilling their shots – if they can maintain this form with the star trio back, the team could transform into an offensive powerhouse that ignites an equal-and-opposite win streak that vaults the Hawks back up the standings.