The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets enter Thursday’s matchup at Spectrum Center with multiple players listed on their injury reports. Atlanta holds a 15-12 record and comes off a one-game winning streak, while Charlotte is 8-18 and also riding a single-game victory.
For the Hawks, Trae Young is listed as questionable with a right knee MCL sprain, and Kristaps Porzingis remains out due to illness. Additional players sidelined or doubtful include N’Faly Dante, Nikola Djurisic, Caleb Houstan, and Eli John Ndiaye, all of whom are on G League assignments or two-way contracts.
Charlotte will be without Pat Connaughton, Tre Mann, Grant Williams, Drew Peterson, Antonio Reeves, Collin Sexton, and Liam McNeeley. LaMelo Ball is questionable with a left ankle bone bruise, presenting uncertainty for the Hornets’ backcourt.
The Hawks will lean on Jalen Johnson, averaging 22.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who contributes 20.4 points and 3.6 rebounds, to offset absences. Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels will also play crucial roles in supporting Atlanta’s rotation.
Charlotte relies heavily on Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel, who are averaging 21.3 and 19.0 points per game respectively. Brandon Miller’s 17.4 points per outing and LaMelo Ball’s 19.4 points per game provide additional scoring, though his availability remains uncertain.
Thursday’s game is the second meeting of the season, following Atlanta’s 113-110 victory over Charlotte on November 23. With both teams coming off contrasting results in recent games—Atlanta defeating Philadelphia 120-117 and Charlotte edging Cleveland 119-111 in overtime—injury management will play a pivotal role in the contest.
