Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson will be sidelined for the upcoming game against the Phoenix Suns due to a right ankle injury. The 22-year-old has been showcasing his talent this season, averaging 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 51 appearances, with 48 of those as a starter. Over his three-year NBA career, Johnson has maintained averages of 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 143 games, including 54 starts. He was drafted by the Hawks as the 20th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
The injury occurred during Monday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers when Johnson rolled his right ankle after stepping on a teammate's foot. This is the second time this month that Johnson has suffered a right ankle injury, having previously been hurt on March 6, causing him to miss three games.
Despite the setbacks, the Hawks, currently holding the final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 30-38, have been resilient in the absence of star guard Trae Young, who has been out recovering from finger surgery. Young is expected to return before the regular season concludes on April 14.
In addition to Johnson's injury, Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu recently made a comeback after missing 13 games due to a sprained big left toe. Okongwu returned to action on Monday, contributing 11 points in the game against the Lakers.
