Magic center Dwight Howard said Hawks counterpart Jason Collins should have been called for a flagrant foul when he grabbed Howard around the shoulder during Wednesday's game.

Collins acknowledged that he's "committed plenty of flagrant fouls in my career," but said that wasn't one of them.

“He’s so strong you just don’t want to give up [a three-point play],'" Collins said. "On that one, he hadn’t even jumped yet, so it’s not like I snatched him out of the air.”

Injury report

Hawks guard Joe Johnson made his second start since missing a game because of a sprained right thumb.

"It’s going to be one of those things that pretty much lingers," Johnson said. "I am never going to have enough time to rest it for it to heal up.”

Johnson still wears a headband to protect a skin infection, but he said the wound no longer hurts.

  • Hawks center Al Horford said his previously injured hamstring isn't an issue, but he still gets "maintenance" treatment for his left ankle.

“The ankle is the one that is still real sore," he said "Besides the ankle, I feel fine.”

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Atlanta Hawks' Larry Nance Jr. (22) attempts a layup during second half of a basketball game against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in Atlanta, at State Farm Arena. (Jason Allen/AJC)

Credit: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC