NBA: Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu out at least two games for dental fracture

Atlanta Hawks forward/center Onyeka Okongwu will miss at least two games after suffering a dental fracture in Wednesday’s win over the Boston Celtics. Okongwu underwent a procedure on Thursday and is expected to be day-to-day moving forward.

The Hawks are set to host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night and visit the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Okongwu was injured when Boston guard Jaylen Brown elbowed him while he was holding the ball in the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s 117-106 road victory. Brown was assessed a flagrant foul and later said 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, it 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 free throws 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 over 354 regular-season games, including 112 starts. This season, his sixth in the NBA, he is posting career highs of 16.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 47 games (36 starts).

The Hawks will also be without 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 in the 2020 NBA Draft.

—Field Level Media/Reuters