Joe Johnson left Monday night's game against Chicago with a knee injury. He returned to Atlanta to have a MRI done. After undergoing the MRI yesterday, Johnson was diagnosed with left knee tendinitis.
The team announced yesterday that Johnson will miss the Hawks’ next two games (tonight in New York, tomorrow vs. Orlando). However, Johnson has now also been scratched from this weekend's All-Star festivities in Orlando. The earliest he may return to the floor would be Wednesday, February 29 at home against the Golden State Warriors, depending on how the injury is re-evaluated early next week.
With the injury, Tracy McGrady and Marvin Williams will both likely see an increase in playing time. Both McGrady and Williams have allegedly sounded off in recent days about the minutes they are getting, unhappy with their role on the reeling Hawks. The team has now lost seven of its past ten contests, including a 1-3 road trip that concludes tonight in New York. The Hawks have been behind by at least fifteen points in each of the last four games.
With Johnson now a scratch for the activities in Orlando, it is possible Josh Smith gets an invite to Orlando after all. The forward was snubbed for a reserve spot, but now may get the nod for his first All-Star Game.
The Hawks now sit at 19-13, in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They currently sit five games ahead of ninth-place Cleveland in the Eastern Conference, and 6.5 games behind conference-leading Miami .
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