Atlanta Hawks Rule Out Jalen Johnson Ahead of Clash With Sacramento Kings

The Atlanta Hawks faced a setback just before their game against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night at the Golden 1 Center, as they announced that forward Jalen Johnson would be unable to play. The decision was made merely 15 minutes before tip-off due to Johnson’s left lateral lower leg inflammation. Johnson, a key player for the Hawks, was expected to be part of a healthier roster that had recently seen the return of several players from the injury list.

Johnson had participated in his regular pre-game warm-up and was reviewing game tapes with a team assistant before heading back to the locker room where the final determination was made. Notably, Johnson had an impressive performance in Sunday’s game, scoring 25 points and achieving a 71% shooting percentage despite the team’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Hawks had been anticipating a more robust lineup as Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Bufkin, De’Andre Hunter, and Vit Krejci returned to the team’s rotation recently. Bogdanovic and Bufkin, in particular, had been absent for significant durations, with Bogdanovic not competing since their opening night and Bufkin making his debut appearance for the season.

Despite being tied with some ongoing challenges, the Hawks hold strong positions in several NBA statistics, ranking 6th in points per game and 3rd in free throw attempts. However, they face hurdles with turnovers and inconsistent defense, particularly in allowing high numbers of three-point attempts and percentages against them.

Trae Young continues to spearhead the Hawks’ offensive efforts. In his recent match against Portland, Young secured 29 points and eight assists but faced resistance from the opposition’s defense. His performance will be crucial in the game against the Kings, where he previously scored 25 points and offered 12 assists. The matchup between Young and Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, an NBA standout over the past week, is highly anticipated.

Meanwhile, Dyson Daniels, who has been a significant presence for the Hawks, struggled slightly in his last appearance, managing 12 points with issues in turnovers. His defensive abilities will be tested as he marks Fox in what is expected to be a competitive duel within the game.