PORTLAND, Ore. — The Hawks’ bad luck with injuries to centers continues.
Center Jason Collins said he would miss up to another month with a torn ligament in his left elbow. Collins received the prognosis during a checkup this week in Phoenix.
“Another two to four more weeks,” Collins said before the Hawks faced the Trail Blazers late Saturday. “They showed me the MRI on the screen and the severity of the tear and highly recommended I stay in this brace so I can get back to the court as quickly as possible.”
Collins suffered the sprain Feb. 2 against Memphis. His arm was pinned underneath an opponent as he scrambled for a loose ball.
The Hawks have been thin in the front court since Collins was added to the injury list. All-Star center Al Horford suffered a torn pectoral muscle Jan. 11 and is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-April.
After using rookie forward as the backup to Zaza Pachulia for a week, the Hawks signed veteran Erick Dampier to a 10-day contract Feb. 9. He had played a total of 26 minutes in four games entering Saturday.
After Dampier’s contract expires, the rules allow the Hawks to sign him for the rest of the season or sign him to another 10-day contract. Coach Larry Drew said he would meet with general manager Rick Sund after the Blazers game to make a decision.
Dampier, a 16-year NBA veteran, said he would like to stay with the Hawks.
“It’s been great so far,” he said before the Blazers game. “It’s a great group of guys. I think they are trying to mix in some experienced guys in with this team.”
Johnson’s knee ailing
Hawks guard Joe Johnson wore a soft brace to protect his problematic left knee Saturday.
“I’ve got tendinitis real bad right here,” Johnson said while pointing in the area of his patellar tendon. “It’s tough at times, but I had a couple days of rest, so I should be all right.”
The Hawks didn’t practice Thursday and had a light shooting session Friday.
After a burst of efficient scoring in the wake of Horford’s injury, Johnson’s production has dipped. In the eight games since he scored 30 points to lift the Hawks to victory at Toronto, Johnson averaged 13.8 points and shot 38 percent from the field (not including the Blazers game).
Johnson scored a season-low six points and missed eight of 10 shots during a 101-99 victory at Phoenix on Wednesday.
“The last game I thought he was a little tired,” Drew said. “His shots were a little short. When that happens, usually it’s the legs. ... When the physical fatigue sets in, usually the mental fatigue is not far behind. Hopefully those days off will help.”
Shooting star
The NBA announced that Johnson will join Lindsay Harding of the WNBA’s Dream and former Hawks All-Star Steve Smith on Team Atlanta at the All-Star Shooting Stars competition. The Feb. 25 event is part of All-Star weekend in Orlando.
Team Atlanta won the competition last season with Horford, Smith and Dream guard Coco Miller.
“It will be fun,” Johnson said. “I have to go out there and try to repeat.”
Johnson is set to play in his sixth consecutive All-Star game and also participate in the three-point competition.
