With one game left before the All-Star break, the Atlanta Hawks are gearing up for a rematch with the Charlotte Hornets-a team that just handed them a loss a few days ago. But this time around, the Hornets will look a little different. Both Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate have been hit with four-game suspensions following their altercation during a game against the Pistons, thinning out Charlotte’s rotation at a critical point in the season.
For the Hawks, the focus shifts to health-or the lack of it. Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher have all landed on the injury report ahead of this matchup.
Johnson is dealing with left inflammation, Daniels has right ankle inflammation, and Risacher is managing a left quad contusion. All three are officially listed as questionable.
Johnson and Daniels already missed the Hawks’ last outing against the Timberwolves, and with the All-Star break right around the corner, there’s a reasonable chance the team errs on the side of caution and gives them extra time to heal. As for Risacher, he was visibly limping during the Timberwolves game, and while the severity of the injury remains unclear, it’s something worth monitoring-especially with All-Star weekend on the horizon.
Risacher was recently named to the Rising Stars Game, and if his injury lingers, the league may need to find a replacement. Johnson, meanwhile, has a busy weekend ahead. He’s slated to compete in the Shooting Stars challenge and then suit up for the All-Star Game itself.
From a standings perspective, this game carries weight. The Hawks are holding on to the ninth seed in the East, while the Hornets are chasing from just behind. With both teams jockeying for position in the play-in mix, every win counts-and a healthier Hawks roster would go a long way toward securing one before the break.
Whether or not Johnson, Daniels, and Risacher take the floor will be a game-time decision, but their availability could tip the scales in what’s shaping up to be a key Eastern Conference battle.