Jalen Johnson has undoubtedly had a breakout season this year. Despite playing in the shadow of Trae Young for most of his career, Johnson had the opportunity to show what he was truly made of this season.
When Young dealt with injuries all season long, Johnson stepped into the driver’s seat and led the Atlanta Hawks, with his status as the franchise player solidified after the team traded Young to the Washington Wizards. Now that his value is clear, fans are concerned about Johnson’s availability after he recently sustained an injury and are awaiting his return.
Jalen Johnson Injury Update: Hawks Star Questionable Against Pistons
The Hawks are set to face off against the Detroit Pistons. Given their disparity in placement in the Eastern Conference standings, it would be ideal if Atlanta had all its heavy hitters in the lineup.
However, Johnson sustained an injury after a matchup against the Houston Rockets last Friday. Injury reports state that he sustained a left shoulder inflammation and will be listed as day-to-day until further notice.
Johnson is currently marked as questionable for the Hawks’ upcoming game against the Pistons on Wednesday. So far, he has missed two consecutive games: one against the Golden State Warriors and the other against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Fortunately for the Hawks, they managed to secure victories in both games despite Johnson’s absence. However, it remains to be seen how long they can hold down the fort without their star player.
The Hawks have 10 games remaining in their regular season. They’re currently sitting in sixth place with a 40-32 record in the Eastern Conference. While their current placement is good, they could easily still fall out of the playoff picture.
Looking at the standings, the seventh- to 10th-place teams’ records aren’t too far off from the Hawks’ record.
The 10th-place Charlotte Hornets have a 37-34 record, putting them only 2.5 games behind Atlanta. Charlotte has been on a roll lately, notching three consecutive wins. If the Hornets maintain their momentum, they could easily climb out of the play-in tournament and punch their ticket straight to the playoffs, forcing the Hawks to drop in the standings.
Managing Johnson’s injury will be key in the 10 remaining games. While having him play is essential to the team’s success, the Hawks cannot risk worsening his injury, especially given how close they are to the postseason.
