The Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets meet Friday night at Barclays Center with several injuries shaping the rotation for both teams. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET in Brooklyn as Atlanta looks to complete a season sweep.
Atlanta enters the game with three players on the injury report. Jock Landale has been ruled out with a right high ankle sprain, while two-way guards RayJ Dennis and Keshon Gilbert are listed as questionable due to G League assignments.
Landale’s absence removes a frontcourt depth option for the Hawks. The veteran big averages 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field this season.
Atlanta has relied heavily on its core contributors during a recent winning stretch. Jalen Johnson is averaging 22.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game, anchoring the offense through transition play and half-court creation.
Perimeter scoring has also come from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is averaging 20.6 points while shooting 39.4 percent from three-point range. Onyeka Okongwu adds interior balance with 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
The Hawks have won the first three meetings between the teams this season, including victories on Oct. 29, Feb. 22 and March 12. Atlanta enters Friday’s contest riding a three-game winning streak and holds a 44-33 record, placing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Brooklyn’s injury list is significantly longer heading into the matchup. Leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. has been ruled out with a left hamstring strain, removing a major offensive option from the lineup.
Porter has averaged 24.2 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three-point range across 52 games this season.
Brooklyn could regain some frontcourt stability, however. Nic Claxton is listed as probable with right hand soreness and illness, and forward Noah Clowney is probable despite left ankle soreness.
Claxton averages 11.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while anchoring the defense around the rim. Clowney contributes 12.3 points and two made three-pointers per game, providing spacing from the power forward spot.
Several other Nets players remain sidelined. Rookie guard Egor Demin is out due to left plantar fascia injury management, while big men Day’Ron Sharpe and Danny Wolf are recovering from thumb surgery and an ankle sprain respectively.
Brooklyn enters the game with an 18-58 record after a 117-86 loss to the Charlotte Hornets earlier this week.
For Atlanta, the matchup presents a chance to maintain momentum before the postseason. The Hawks have averaged 126.5 points across their last two games, including a 130-101 road win against the Orlando Magic on April 1.
