The Atlanta Hawks are starting to show signs of life again. After a rough stretch, they’ve strung together back-to-back wins and are beginning to find some rhythm - even without two key pieces in Kristaps Porzingis and rookie Zaccharie Risacher. Depth has been the name of the game lately, and the Hawks are leaning on it hard.
Now, there's some encouraging news on the injury front.
Porzingis, who’s been sidelined for the last eight games with left Achilles tendinitis, is back participating in basketball activities. That’s a step in the right direction, though he’ll be re-evaluated in about a week before any return timeline becomes clearer.
Risacher, meanwhile, is a little further along in his recovery from a left knee bone contusion. He’s already been ruled out for the Hawks’ matchup against Indiana, but his status is now considered day-to-day - which suggests he could be back sooner than later.
The Hawks briefly assigned Risacher to their G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, likely to get him some practice reps. He was recalled the very next day, a sign that his return to NBA action may not be far off. That’s good news for a team that’s been thin on the wing and could use his size, versatility, and defensive energy.
Porzingis’ situation is a bit more complicated. While he’s making progress, the Achilles issue has kept him out of action for a significant chunk of the season.
He’s only appeared in 17 games so far, and his availability has been inconsistent - not just because of this current injury, but also due to an illness earlier in the year. That illness may be linked to the POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) condition he was managing during his time with the Celtics last season.
When he’s on the floor, Porzingis has made a real impact - stretching the floor offensively, protecting the rim, and giving the Hawks a different dimension on both ends. But the challenge has been keeping him out there consistently. The team has had to navigate long stretches without him, and that’s made it tough to build continuity, especially after the roster shake-up that saw Trae Young traded and CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert brought in.
The truth is, we still don’t know what this new-look Hawks team really is at full strength. Between the injuries and the midseason changes, they haven’t had a chance to establish a true identity. But with players starting to inch closer to returns, that picture might start coming into focus soon.
For now, the Hawks will keep leaning on their depth and trying to stack wins. And if Risacher and Porzingis can get back in the mix soon, Atlanta might finally get a glimpse of the team they hoped they’d be this season.