Injuries have decimated the Atlanta Hawks’ roster, preventing them from competing at full strength in a tightly contested Eastern Conference. Fortunately for the team, they may soon get a reprieve.
The NBA Player Guessing Game allows you to guess the NBA player based on clues about their team, division, height, jersey number, points, and experience.
Atlanta Hawks Injury Report and Updates
There are five players listed on the Hawks’ injury report ahead of their clash against the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
Star point guard Trae Young has been out of action since exiting their Oct. 29 game against the Brooklyn Nets. His diagnosis later revealed a sprained MCL in his right knee. He remains out against the Nuggets.
Forward Jacob Toppin, who is on a two-way contract, has been listed as out after it was announced Tuesday that he has a shoulder injury.
Center N’Faly Dante finally made his return from an MCL sprain for the Hawks’ G League unit on Tuesday but left that very same game after being struck in the face. He was later revealed to have suffered a concussion, and he will remain out on G League assignment.
Big man Kristaps Porziņģis has been out for four straight games. The most recent update came on Wednesday, when he missed the game against the Los Angeles Clippers because of an unspecified illness. He is listed as questionable under return-to-competition reconditioning.
Jalen Johnson, who took over the team’s offense after Trae Young went down, also missed the game against the Clippers with a calf injury. He remains questionable with the same issue.
Jalen Johnson (calf) questionable for Friday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 4, 2025
Despite the numerous injuries and Young having played only five games before being sidelined, the Hawks are managing to hang on. They could also see better days ahead, as their injured players might soon return to action.
According to ESPN, every one of their injured players is expected to return before the end of the week. Toppin, Porziņģis, and Johnson could return on Friday. Young and Dante are expected to make a comeback the following day.
This positive update could vault the Hawks ahead in the standings. The team has managed to remain above .500 at 13-10 despite having Young for only five games and Porziņģis for 12.
Johnson deserves credit for keeping the team afloat while Young has been out. He’s put up 23.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in 16 games without the star point guard. Young’s return will take some of the load off Johnson’s shoulders, as the guard’s creativity on offense demands a lot of attention from opposing defenses.
Add Porziņģis’ interior presence, rebounding, and defense, and the Hawks might just climb in the standings.