The Hawks will be short-handed again tonight when they face the Spurs in preseason play, but they should also get a familiar name back in the mix.
Atlanta is still chasing its first preseason win after dropping Monday’s home game to the Memphis Grizzlies, and the injury report has kept some of the rotation in flux. Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar remain out, and they’ll be joined by Jalen Johnson, Lu Dort, and Keshon Gilbert.
Johnson is resting, Dort is dealing with a right knee contusion, and Gilbert has left patella tendinitis. Dort’s absence stands out most because it’s his second straight missed game, and the Hawks still haven’t gotten his Atlanta debut. The next opportunity for him to play comes Saturday.
There is better news on the CJ McCollum front. He was out Monday against Memphis, but he is not on the injury report tonight and should be back in the starting lineup.
If Johnson sits as expected, Asa Newell looks lined up to start in his place. The Hawks’ first-round pick in 2025 already logged backup power forward minutes against the Grizzlies and posted 12 points and 12 rebounds. His night wasn’t clean defensively early, but he settled in against Memphis’ reserves and finished well.
Gilbert also saw extended run Monday as one of Atlanta’s two-way players, finishing with two points and two assists.
On the other side, San Antonio will be without Tobias Harris, but the Spurs are set to open with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama.
Projected Hawks starters and rotation for tonight: G- CJ McCollum
G- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F- Dyson Daniels
F- Asa Newell
C- Onyeka Okongwu
G- Kingston Flemings
G- Aaron Wiggins
F- Corey Kispert
F- Jalen Wilson
C- Jock Landale
F/C- Zuby Ejiofor
G- RayJ Dennis
F- Dorian Finney-Smith
Out: Jalen Johnson, Lu Dort, Keshon Gilbert, Mouhamed Gueye, and Henri Veesaar.
In Other News...
Aaron Wiggins Is Forcing An Early Hawks Rotation Decision
The Hawks got their first look at Aaron Wiggins in the preseason opener, and the new guard wasted little time making his case for a bigger role. Acquired via trade, Wiggins chipped in seven points in 11 minutes and looked like a player who can fit into multiple backcourt looks, which matters for a team still sorting out its bench mix before the games start counting.
The lineup picture was already a little unsettled before tip-off, with CJ McCollum and Lu Dort both ruled out and the rotation order left open to interpretation. Wiggins early minutes only add another layer to the decision once Dort is back, because Atlanta now has to figure out where the newcomer fits when the bench is full and the coaching staff has more options to juggle. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Bench Battle Just Got More Interesting After Spurs Win
The Hawks preseason bounce-back against the Spurs offered a useful reminder that the second unit is going to be under a microscope all month. After the loss to Memphis, Atlanta got a much cleaner response on the defensive end, forcing 22 turnovers and turning them into 30 points, with the bench supplying much of the energy that changed the games tone.
Kingston Flemings and Asa Newell were central to that push, giving Atlanta the kind of active, disruptive minutes coaches tend to notice in October. Flemings handled the ball, created for others and made plays on defense, while Newell kept popping up in the right spots and gave the Hawks a strong all-around impact. For a roster still sorting out roles, that kind of production only makes the bench conversation more crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Preseason Comeback Put A Few Rotation Battles In Focus
Atlantas preseason win over San Antonio offered more than just a comeback from 23 down. It also gave the Hawks a better look at a few lineup questions as the roster continues to take shape, with the group catching fire from outside and using a huge second quarter to swing the game. The Hawks finished at 39.1% from three-point range and buried 10 shots from deep in that frame alone, a surge that helped turn an uneven start into a 123-116 victory.
Several players made their case in the process, starting with a rookie guard who looked comfortable in a lead role and added 15 points along with three rebounds, five assists and three steals. Dyson Daniels chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds, while CJ McCollum supplied 14 points and four made threes. For a preseason game, it was the kind of performance that can quietly shape the conversation around rotation spots, especially for the players trying to separate from the pack. [Read more 🡒]