Hawks’ John Collins To Return Friday

John Collins is set to return to the Hawks on Friday night after missing the team’s past seven games, according to Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link).

Collins has been dealing with a strained right foot and coach Nate McMillan had previously said he’d be a game-time decision, but evidently Collins feels good enough to play after going through a pregame warm-up, as Spencer tweets.

Friday’s matchup is a key one for the Hawks because they’re on the road against the Wizards, the team directly beneath them in the standings. Atlanta currently holds a 30-32 record, 10th in the East, while Washington trails by one-and-a-half games at 28-33.

Collins signed a five-year, $125MM contract during the 2021 offseason after playing an important role in helping the Hawks reach last year’s Eastern Conference finals. He has remained productive this season, averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds through 50 games while shooting 53.7% from the field and 38.8% from three-point range.

Collins’ return will help bolster a Hawks squad that’s a little short on frontcourt depth at the moment, as second-year big man Onyeka Okongwu is currently in the league’s concussion protocol.

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