The Atlanta Hawks are heading south for a divisional clash with the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, and there’s finally a flicker of good news on the injury front. Kristaps Porzingis, who’s been sidelined for weeks with left Achilles tendinitis, has officially been upgraded to questionable for the matchup-a sign that his return to the hardwood could be just around the corner.
For Hawks fans, it’s been a frustrating stretch. Porzingis, the centerpiece of a major offseason move, has barely had a chance to build chemistry with the team.
First it was an illness, then the Achilles flare-up, and just like that, weeks of potential progress evaporated. But with his status upgraded, there’s renewed hope that the 7-foot-3 big man could soon make his long-awaited impact on both ends of the floor.
The injury report, however, is still far from clean. Onyeka Okongwu will remain out after taking a brutal elbow to the face from Jaylen Brown in last week’s game against the Celtics. Okongwu’s absence continues to test Atlanta’s frontcourt depth, especially with Clint Capela logging heavy minutes and the team relying on smaller lineups more often than they'd like.
Miami isn’t coming in at full strength either. Tyler Herro, a key scoring threat for the Heat, will miss the game due to a rib injury.
Nikola Jovic is listed as questionable with a right hip impingement, and Norman Powell-fresh off an All-Star selection-is also questionable due to personal reasons. That’s a lot of uncertainty for a Heat squad that’s trying to maintain its footing in the tightly packed East.
The Hawks, meanwhile, are trying to recapture the momentum they briefly found. A recent four-game win streak had them trending in the right direction, but back-to-back losses-most notably a deflating defeat to the struggling Indiana Pacers on Saturday-have raised fresh concerns about consistency. That loss stung not just because of the opponent, but because of how flat Atlanta looked in a game they were expected to control.
Still, there are bright spots. Jalen Johnson’s breakout season earned him a well-deserved All-Star nod, and he’s become a vital piece of what the Hawks are building. His two-way versatility and growing confidence have been a revelation, and now the team needs others to rise to the occasion as the All-Star break looms.
Tipoff between the Hawks and Heat is set for 7:30 p.m. ET in Miami.
If Porzingis suits up, it could mark a turning point in Atlanta’s season. If not, the Hawks will once again need to dig deep to stay competitive in a game that could have real implications for the Eastern Conference standings.