Add Paul Millsap to the growing list of injured Hawks.
The All-Star forward missed Saturday’s game against the Knicks with a bruised knee. The injury occurred near the end of Friday’s loss to the Pistons.
There was no immediate timetable for Millsap’s return. He will be further evaluated.
“We’ll know more as we go forward,” coach Mike Budenholzer said.
The Hawks have been riddled with injury this season. There have been season-ending surgeries to Al Horford (right pectoral) and John Jenkins (lower back). The Hawks are down to one healthy center as Pero Antic (right ankle stress fracture) and Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder) are out. Starters Jeff Teague (left ankle sprain) and DeMarre Carroll (left hamstring strain) have missed time recently.
Millsap had missed one game this season, sitting out a Nov. 19 contest against the Heat with right elbow tendinitis.
Carroll started at power forward Saturday, and Shelvin Mack joined the lineup.
Teague back: There was some good news on the Hawks' injury front. As Millsap went out, Teague came back. The point guard returned after sitting out Friday's game.
“He didn’t feel like it was ready yet,” Budenholzer said of Teague sitting out the one game.
In other injury news, Ayon said his right shoulder injury is the same inflammation and rotator-cuff strain that cost him eight games to start the season. He said he is targeting a return to practice Monday, although nothing has been finalized.
Pittman signed: The Hawks signed center Dexter Pittman to a 10-day contract before Saturday's game.
Pittman, who played the past three NBA seasons with the Heat and Grizzlies, most recently played for the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. He played in 17 games this season and averaged 9.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 17.5 minutes. He played with the Toros on Friday night in a 130-127 win over Sioux Falls and had 28 points and 17 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Pittman, who won a championship with the Heat, appeared in 48 regular-season NBA games and averaged 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.2 minutes.
He was available for the Hawks on Friday, giving them 10 healthy players. He will wear No. 45.
Cunningham waived: To clear a roster spot for Pittman, the Hawks waived Jared Cunningham. The guard, who has bounced between the Hawks and the D- League this season, appeared in only five NBA games. He was re-called from the Bakersfield (Calif.) Jam on Friday and was in uniform against the Pistons, but did not play.
Cunningham will become an unrestricted free agent should he clear waivers in 48 hours. He was to become a free agent at the end of the season after the Hawks declined to pick up his third-year option.
Wilkens honored: Lenny Wilkens, the Hall of Fame player and coach, was honored at halftime in what was billed as Hawks Heritage Night. The tribute comes on the 20th anniversary of Wilkens being named Coach of the Year as he led the Hawks to the 1993-94 division title.
An on-court ceremony was held at halftime. Joining Wilkens was Paul Silas, former Hawks player Dikembe Mutombo and Hawks general manager Danny Ferry, who played for Wilkens in Cleveland.
“It really is an honor,” Wilkens said. “When I first came into the NBA, I came in with the Hawks. They were the St. Louis Hawks, but they became the Atlanta Hawks. To play half your career and coach half your career (in Atlanta), it’s an achievement.
Wilkens said he had many fond memories of his time in Atlanta, including coaching the U.S. men’s basketball team here in the 1996 Olympic Games.
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