Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter is available for Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to reports. This comes after Hunter missed the Hawks’ previous two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to right knee soreness. The news was first reported on Twitter by Danny Cunningham.
Hunter’s return is a welcome development for the Hawks, who have been dealing with a few injuries. However, Coach Quin Snyder will ease Hunter back into the lineup. He is expected to come off the bench for this game against the Lakers. This will allow him to get back into game shape without immediately being thrown into a heavy workload.
Prior to his knee issue, Hunter had been contributing consistently to the Hawks’ offense. Over his last eight games, he averaged 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. His scoring and rebounding presence will be a boost to the Hawks’ second unit.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, continue to grapple with injuries to key players. Darius Garland remains sidelined due to a toe injury, and Evan Mobley is out with a calf injury. These absences have certainly impacted the Cavaliers’ performance in recent games.
While Hunter’s availability is a positive sign for the Hawks, it remains to be seen how effective he will be coming off the bench after missing time. The Hawks will be hoping that he can quickly regain his rhythm and contribute to their efforts against the Lakers. This game will be a test for both teams as they navigate through their respective injury situations. The article was initially published by Nicholas Rodriguez on Wed, Jan 28th 6:30pm EST.
