It was a rough day for the Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks’ three-game win streak came to an end with a 149-148 overtime loss to the New York Knicks. At one point, they trailed by 18 points and were down by 15 after halftime. Despite outscoring the Knicks 77-69 in the second half, their one-point deficit in overtime proved too much to overcome, even after creating an open shot for Georges Niang.
Compounding the defeat, the Hawks are dealing with further injury setbacks. Larry Nance Jr. and Vit Krejci are both expected to be out for at least a month. Both players have been crucial to the Hawks’ bench unit, which ranks third in the league for scoring.
Krejci, who suffered a lower back contusion in the game on February 12, was diagnosed with a non-displaced lumbar fracture after further evaluation. He’s expected to be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, though his earliest return date is likely March 6 against the Indiana Pacers, which seems uncertain.
Nance, who injured his right knee during the same game, was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of his right femoral condyle. He’s expected to be re-evaluated in about six weeks, with a possible return around March 25 against the Houston Rockets, although this is also unlikely. The Hawks may decide to hold him out for longer, especially with the team’s need for him to fully recover.
Both players have already missed several games this season, and their absences leave the Hawks with a murky outlook moving forward. Nance, who is 32, may find his role eventually taken over by second-year player Mouhamed Gueye, who has had a solid season, despite struggling in the loss to the Knicks. Krejci, on the other hand, is younger (24) and could be an important piece for the Hawks’ future.
New acquisitions Caris LeVert and Georges Niang each scored over 20 points and are expected to improve with more time together. However, the Hawks’ injury woes and overall uncertainty cast a shadow over the team as they head into the All-Star break, with significant questions hanging over the future of star Trae Young and the team’s overall direction.
