The Hawks provided injury updates (via Twitter) Monday morning on Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher, saying both players are making progress with their recoveries and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.
Porzingis has missed the past five games with left Achilles tendinitis and has only played 17 times this season. Acquired over the summer in a trade with Boston, Porzingis has been effective when he’s been healthy, averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.3 minutes per night while shooting 45.7% from the field and 36% from three-point range. He also missed significant time with an illness earlier this season.
Porzingis has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate, as his $30.7MM expiring contract could be useful in matching salaries.
Risacher, the top pick in the 2024 draft, has sat out the last five games with a left knee bone contusion. The 20-year-old small forward is averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 24.6 minutes per night during his second NBA season while connecting at 46.2% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. He has already missed eight games this season, exceeding his total from all of last year.
Atlanta has reportedly been unwilling to part with Risacher in trade talks, even to acquire a star player.
At 20-24, the Hawks are in a precarious position and will need a healthy lineup as soon as possible. They’re holding onto the East’s final play-in spot, 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee, who they’ll host today in an afternoon matinee.