When the Atlanta Hawks take the floor on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET against the Washington Wizards, the status of F Jalen Johnson will be a significant storyline. The breakout forward is dealing with a hip injury ahead of tip-off.
Let’s take a look at the latest Jalen Johnson injury update for Thursday vs. the Wizards, plus some key stats and PrizePicks projections to monitor for which Hawks players could potentially benefit.
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Jalen Johnson Injury Update: Is He Playing vs. Wizards?
The Hawks officially ruled Johnson out for Thursday’s contest due to a left hip flexor ailment.
Johnson left Tuesday’s game in the opening quarter against the Wizards due to the injury. He was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game after scoring 5 points in six minutes of action.
The Hawks will soon be off until they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, so it’s not a huge surprise that the team is electing to give Johnson a few extra days of rest.
Johnson’s versatility has been on full display throughout the season. The Hawks star leads the team in points (23.0), rebounds (10.6), and assists (7.9) per game while shooting 34.3% from beyond the arc.
Jalen Johnson Injury Impact: Which Hawks Players to Target?
With Johnson being out against the Wizards, C Onyeka Okongwu could stand to benefit.
Since being selected with the sixth overall NBA Draft pick in 2020, Okongwu has developed into a very talented big man for the Hawks. In fact, his post presence may be relied upon even more with Johnson out against Washington. In 43 games, Okongwu has averaged 16.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.2 APG while shooting a career-high 38.1% from deep.
Okongwu may not have thrived against the Wizards on Tuesday, but the offensive volume was certainly there. After all, he hoisted 17 shots on the night, managing to hit just four of them.
The standout center has netted at least 16 points in three of his last seven contests, including a 22-point performance in a loss against the Miami Heat on February 20. Okongwu also thrives on the glass, leading to more offensive opportunities.
According to NBA Advanced Stats, Okongwu pulls down 39.4% of his contested rebound chances. The Wizards also give up the most offensive rebounds (13.4) in the NBA on a nightly basis.
Onyeka Okongwu Stats, Projections vs. Wizards
Here are the most popular Onyeka Okongwu player projections for Wizards vs. Hawks tonight, via PrizePicks, where you can predict More or Less on player stats to earn real money if you're right.
- 16.5 Points
- 29.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 27.5 Pts + Rebs
- 8.5 Rebounds
- 2.5 Offensive Rebounds
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Make Wizards vs. Hawks Picks on PrizePicks
The Hawks will be without the services of versatile F Jalen Johnson for Thursday’s game against the Wizards. With Johnson not being able to take the floor, there are still several Hawks player picks to consider on PrizePicks, including ones for Onyeka Okongwu.
Just pick at least two player stat projections, predict More or Less on them, and cash in if you're right. With PrizePicks Team Picks, you can also make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders — now available in 34 states!
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