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Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson will miss the team's next two games and will not play in the NBA All-Star game, the team announced.
Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Joe Johnson will miss the next two games with an injured left knee, the team announced on Tuesday. Johnson initially suffered the injury in the Hawks' loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday, and he is undergoing an MRI to determine if the injury is even more serious. He would miss the team's games against the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic.
It also appears that Johnson will not play in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game over the weekend, according to Zach Klein of the Wall-Street Journal.
#hawks Joe Johnson is out next 2-gms w/sore left knee. Nothing is official, but I'm hearing he's pulling out of All-Star gm
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) February 21, 2012
If Johnson cannot play, that opens the door for teammate Josh Smith to be named to the roster. The league could also name Kyrie Irving or Jeremy Lin to replace Johnson if they pass over Smith. Johnson would also need to be replaced in the Shooting Stars and Three-Point Shootout competitions.
For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
Joe Johnson Injury Update: Atlanta Hawks Guard To Miss NBA All-Star Game
Joe Johnson will indeed be unavailable to play in the NBA All-Star Game and the NBA Three-Point Shootout competition over the weekend due to a left knee injury, the Atlanta Hawks announced on Wednesday. The news was first reported on Tuesday by Zach Klein of the Wall-Street Journal.
Via Hawks PR:
Johnson's absence opens up a spot in the All-Star Game for another player. Many expect that Johnson's teammate, Josh Smith, will be the man tabbed to replace him, but that decision has not been made. We do know that New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin will not be the guy, as NBA commissioner David Stern told David Aldridge of NBA.com that he will not step in to give Lin a spot in the game.
Johnson is averaging just 17.6 points per game this year, his lowest average since joining the Hawks in 2005.
For more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.
Feb 22 12:26p by Mike Prada - 0 comments