Atlanta Hawks forward/center Onyeka Okongwu was ruled out for at least two games after sustaining a dental fracture against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday and having a procedure on Thursday.
The Hawks host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night and visit the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. Atlanta said Okongwu, 25, will be day-to-day moving forward from that point.
Okongwu was hurt when Boston guard Jaylen Brown elbowed him while holding the ball in the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s 117-106 road win. Brown, who was called for a flagrant foul, said later that the contact was unintentional.
“Just a basketball play,” Brown said after the game. “It’s unfortunate. Okongwu’s a good player. I know from my own experiences with a fractured face and chipped teeth. … So, wasn’t intentional. I know it’s going to be a long day at the dentist for him. Hopefully, he has a good recovery.”
Okongwu left the game after making one of two foul shots with 6:43 remaining. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds, two steals and one block in 29 minutes.
For his career, Okongwu averages 10.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 blocks and 23.8 minutes in 354 regular-season games (112 starts). In 47 games (36 starts) this season, his sixth in the NBA, he is averaging career highs of 16.3 points, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals.
The Hawks also won’t have forward Jalen Johnson (left calf tightness), center Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and forward Zaccharie Risacher (bone contusion in left knee) for Thursday’s game.
Atlanta selected Okongwu with the sixth overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.
