The Atlanta Hawks' winning streak was snapped at three games, as they fell 149-148 to the New York Knicks in overtime. The Hawks’ deficit grew to 18 points in the contest and 15 points after halftime.
They outscored their hosts 77-69 in the third and fourth quarter but their one-point deficit in OT proved insurmountable despite generating an open look for Georges Niang.
The loss also follows another rough day on the injury front.
Atlanta announced they would be without Larry Nance Jr. and Vit Krejci for roughly one month or more each. Both players have proven to be vital members of the Hawks’ bench unit that ranks third in scoring.
“Vit Krejci left Monday night’s game due to a lower back contusion. Further evaluation and imaging at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex confirmed a non-displaced lumbar fracture,” the Hawks announced in a post on X on February 12. “He will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, and an update will be provided at that time.”
Krejci is averaging 6.9 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 38.4% from beyond the arc. He has been key as a playmaker when Hawks star Trae Young sits.
His earliest possible return date would be March 6 against the Indiana Pacers, which is unlikely.
“Larry Nance Jr. left Monday night’s game with a right knee injury. Further evaluation and imaging at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex revealed a non-displaced fracture of his right medial femoral condyle,” the Hawks announcement read. “He will be re-evaluated in approximately six weeks, and an update will be provided at that time.”
Nance is averaging an 8.5/4.3/1.6 line while knocking down 44.7% of his triples. His versatility on both ends of the floor figured to be key the rest of the way.
Nance’s earliest (unlikely) projected return date is March 25 against the Houston Rockets.
That would be the start of a three-game road trip, so it could make more sense to hold him out through that. That assumes he is cleared to return at evaluation. Both players will like require a ramp-up period before hitting the floor again.
Injuries leave Hawks' with murky outlook
Both players have also missed multiple games already due to injuries this season. The kicker with Nance is that the Hawks missed their chance to trade him.
If this season spirals, they will have held onto him for nothing.
Krejci is in Year 1 of a four-year deal. And at 24, he can factor comfortably into the Hawks’ future. Nance is 32 and could return to see his role fulfilled by second-year big man Mouhamed Gueye, who struggled in the loss to the Knicks but has played well in Johnson’s absence.
Trade deadline pickups Caris LeVert and Georges Niang both finished with 20-plus points, and should only improve with more time to gel.
Injuries gave the day an ominous feel, a theme of the season before Jalen Johnson's season-ender.
The loss put the finishing touches on as the Hawks hit the All-Star break with significant questions looming the rest of the way, specifically around Trae Young and the direction of the franchise.