Atlanta Hawks Reveal Jalen Johnson's Injury Status As Questions Grow Over His Return Against Washington Wizards

Jalen Johnson's availability remains uncertain for the Atlanta Hawks© Instagram/jalenjohnson

Jalen Johnson might be back Friday, but the Atlanta Hawks will only call it possible. He is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle for the NBA Cup game against the Washington Wizards, set for 7 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena. Atlanta won twice without him, which took some pressure off the Hawks. Another frontcourt player was ruled out on the same injury report, though. The 6-foot-8 forward wore the same questionable tag before each of his last two absences and sat both times, so Friday's label proves little.

Is Jalen Johnson Playing Against The Wizards On Friday?

Jalen Johnson has not been cleared, and the report offers no return date or minutes limit. He hurt the ankle in the third quarter of the Oct. 31 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, 121-99. He had 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes before leaving for good. Atlanta then beat Indiana and won 120-105 in Washington on Wednesday, both without him.

The Hawks have survived the stretch, but Johnson is the engine. He averages 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists through seven games, and the assists are the hardest part to replace. A forward who creates that much offense cannot be swapped out with one lineup move.

Luguentz Dort has started twice in Johnson's place. He scored 14 points in the first game and just six in the second. Dort is the likely starter if Johnson sits out again. The rematch also comes with fewer bodies up front than Wednesday did, and Atlanta has a quick turnaround, two nights after winning in Washington.

How Thin Is The Hawks Frontcourt Without Asa Newell?

Asa Newell was ruled out with a left great toe hyperextension after leaving Wednesday's game early. Jock Landale and Mouhamed Gueye are already sidelined, and Henri Veesaar has a torn right ACL. Keshon Gilbert is out with knee inflammation too. Zuby Ejiofor and Corey Kispert are the likely answers for extra minutes, although a Johnson return could make them unnecessary.

Wednesday offered a blueprint. Atlanta outrebounded Washington 57-41, with Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels pulling down 16 apiece. Daniels is a guard, so the perimeter clearly carried some of the rebounding load. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 26 points and hit six three-pointers.

Washington is not fully healthy either. Anthony Davis tweaked an ankle in the first quarter Wednesday and played through it with a strong night. He is questionable now, and Deandre Ayton would likely start if Davis cannot go. Washington lost by 15 on Wednesday, so Friday gives it a quick shot at a response, this time in Atlanta.