Kristaps Porzingis among the players suspended against the Lakers

The Atlanta Hawks (4–5) will be short on Saturday night when they are host the surging Los Angeles Lakers (7–2)who enter the match with a streak of five victories. The game begins at 8:00 PM ET on NBA TV.

ESPN’s Om Jangmisuk reported on Saturday afternoon Kristaps Porzingis (disease management), Luke Kennard (disease) and Nikola Đurišić (sprained right elbow) they are all turned off. Meanwhile, Jaylen Johnson (right quad contusion) and Nikhil Alexander-Walker (lower back strain) are listed as questionable.

Porzingis made his final appearance on Friday in a 109–97 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Cup game. The 7-foot-3 forward finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three assists while shooting 4-for-16 from the field and 1-for-7 from three in 30 minutes. It was his seventh game with Atlanta since being traded from the Boston Celtics in the offseason.

In those seven appearances, Porzingis averaged 17.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from beyond the arc. His absence leaves the Hawks without one of their key interior presences and most reliable floor spacers.

Hawks rule out Kristaps Porzingis due to nagging injuries against Lakers

Johnson, who has become one of Atlanta’s best players this season, remains uncertain whether he will play. The fifth-year forward is averaging 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 57.9 percent from the field. He last played on Thursday, recording 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes.

Alexander-Walker, who has started six games this season, is also questionable after being added to the injury report. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three in nine appearances.

With multiple starters on the sidelines, the Hawks are expected to lean heavily on second-year forward Zachary Rizacher and guard Dyson Daniels to help stabilize the rotation. Daniels has provided steady defense and secondary play, while Rizacher continues to earn more responsibility after being selected first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Lakers, led by Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton, enter the game on a five-game winning streak after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 118-116 on Wednesday night. Los Angeles has been one of the league’s most efficient teams during this stretch, with Doncic averaging 36 points and 9.7 assists during that span, while Ayton anchored the interior with near-double-double production.

Atlanta will look to end their two-game skid and close out their home game strong before heading out west. The Hawks will open a four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers (3-5) on Monday night at 10:30 PM ET.