The Atlanta Hawks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, December 29, with tipoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Atlanta enters the matchup with a 15-18 record and sits 10th in the Eastern Conference, while Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference at 27-5 and owns the league’s best net rating.
The Hawks arrive on a six-game losing streak after falling 128-125 to New York on December 27 and 126-111 to Miami one night earlier.
Oklahoma City is coming off a 129-104 win over Philadelphia on December 28, bouncing back from a 130-110 road loss to San Antonio on December 23.
Atlanta’s injury report is extensive and significantly impacts its rotation, led by the absence of Trae Young, who is out with a right quad contusion.
Jalen Johnson is also unavailable due to illness, removing Atlanta’s leading scorer at 23.8 points per game along with his 10.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists.
Kristaps Porzingis remains out with an illness, while N’Faly Dante continues to recover from a torn right ACL, thinning the Hawks’ frontcourt depth.
With Young sidelined, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels are expected to handle expanded backcourt responsibilities after combining for 31.8 points per game.
Onyeka Okongwu becomes a focal point inside, averaging 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks while anchoring Atlanta’s interior defense.
Oklahoma City also has notable absences, though its core remains intact and productive on both ends of the floor.
Isaiah Hartenstein is out with a left soleus strain, and Jaylin Williams remains sidelined due to right heel bursitis, limiting frontcourt rotation options.
Ousmane Dieng is unavailable with a right calf strain, while Ajay Mitchell is listed as questionable because of a left shin contusion.
Despite the injuries, the Thunder continue to lean on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 32.0 points on 55.6 percent shooting with 6.4 assists per game.
Chet Holmgren provides efficient scoring and rim protection, posting 18.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 57.1 percent from the field.
The teams met once earlier this season, with Oklahoma City earning a 117-100 road win in Atlanta on October 25.
