Christian

Koloko

Okongwu has missed Atlanta’s last three games after an elbow to the mouth resulted in broken teeth and a subsequent dental surgery. With Kristaps Porziņģis also missing time due to injury, the Hawks have relied on Christian Koloko and Mouhamed Gueye to fill the void. That will remain the case if Okongwu and Porziņģis can’t play.

There’s just one change to the Hawks’ starting lineup for Tuesday’s game, with Koloko replacing Mouhamed Gueye. While he isn’t starting, Gueye will still figure prominently in the rotation since Onyeka Okongwu and Kristaps Porziņǵis remain out.

Initially cleared to play after missing Atlanta’s last 12 games with an Achilles injury, Porziņǵis has been scratched due to an illness. With Onyeka Okongwu (mouth) still out, the Hawks will be left to once again rely on Christian Koloko and Mouhamed Gueye to fill the void at the center position.

KP is available to return following a 12-game absence, and it’s unclear if he’ll immediately rejoin the starting five or play limited minutes off the bench. In either scenario, Christian Koloko will surely see rotational minutes until Onyeka Okongwu (dental) is cleared to return.

Porziņģis has missed the last 12 games for Atlanta, but he could be back against Miami. Onyeka Okongwu (dental) is still out, so Christian Koloko could remain a starter, with Porziņģis coming off the bench to manage his minutes. Still, Porziņģis can make a big impact in limited action.

Okongwu lost a few teeth during Wednesday’s win over the Celtics, as he took a Jaylen Brown elbow to the mouth. After undergoing dental surgery the following day, the Hawks’ center is looking at an extended absence as he recovers. Christian Koloko moved into the starting lineup for Thursday’s loss to the Rockets, and that’s likely to be his job for the foreseeable future.

With Onyeka Okongwu (mouth) sidelined for this game, Koloko got his first start as a Hawk. With Okongwu ruled out for Saturday’s game against Indiana, he should get the nod again in what will be a more favorable matchup for him. Koloko didn’t do much scoring, but he was decent on the glass and was able to contribute defensively. He’ll hold streaming upside in another start against the Pacers, but managers shouldn’t expect a monster performance.

Atlanta will be incredibly shorthanded for this game, with Jalen Johnson (calf) and Onyeka Okongwu (mouth) both sidelined. Krejci and Koloko will join the starting group, and there should be extra minutes off the bench available for Mouhamed Gueye and Asa Newell.

Okongwu exited Wednesday’s game against the Celtics after being hit in the mouth by Jaylen Brown, resulting in a dental fracture that required surgery. As a result, he’ll miss at least two games, starting with Thursday’s matchup with the Rockets. Okongwu is considered day-to-day, and the Hawks will rely on Mouhamed Gueye and Christian Koloko to fill the resulting void.

Okongwu took an elbow to the face in Wednesday’s game against the Celtics and was left with a bloody mouth and fractured teeth. He had a procedure done on Thursday and will be held out for at least this game. Christian Koloko and Mouhamed Gueye figure to see an increase in minutes, but the usage should still run through the Hawks’ main playmakers.