Jalen Johnson was sidelined during the Hawks' victory over the Warriors due to a shoulder injury. However, head coach Quin Snyder is optimistic about Johnson's return for Monday's matchup against the Grizzlies. Snyder kept it simple, saying, "he’s okay."
Johnson, making his All-Star debut this season, has been a key player for Atlanta, featuring in 63 of their 71 games. With impressive averages of 22.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.0 assists, he’s also second in the league for triple-doubles. The Hawks are in a tight race for sixth place in the East, currently tied with the Sixers, and have been on a hot streak, winning nine of their last ten games.
In other Southeast Division news, Jonathan Kuminga's first outing as a Hawk against his former team, the Warriors, didn’t quite hit the mark. He scored just two points on 1-of-9 shooting.
Despite the publicized split, Kuminga and his former team maintain a positive personal relationship. Warriors coach Steve Kerr commented, “I like Jonathan.
We always got along well. The basketball part was the hard part.”
Kuminga echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the strong bonds with his former teammates.
Meanwhile, Goga Bitadze addressed an incident during the Magic’s narrow loss to the Lakers, where both he and Luka Doncic received technical fouls-later rescinded. Doncic suggested Bitadze made a comment about his mother, which Bitadze denied, stating, “I would never directly say that.” He clarified that the exchange was a heated moment and extended an apology if needed, showing maturity in handling the situation.
LaMelo Ball continues to be a driving force for the Hornets, leading them to a 37-34 record with a 7-3 run in their last ten games. Head coach Charles Lee praised Ball’s infectious energy and his willingness to learn.
“His teammates love him. He’s open-minded to being coached,” Lee remarked.
Teammate Brandon Miller highlighted Ball’s defensive focus, noting it as an underrated aspect of his evolving game.