Al Horford Injury: Hawks Center Leaves Game With Shoulder Injury

by Kris Willis on Jan 11, 2012 7:52 PM EST

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 06: Al Horford #15 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts to making a shot against the Charlotte Bobcats during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on January 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford left tonight's game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and the Hawks have announced that he will not return to the game. The official diagnosis is a shoulder strain for Horford and he will be reevaluated once the team arrives back in Atlanta tomorrow.

#Hawks' Horford out for the remainder of tonight's game (left shoulder strain), will be re-evaluated tomorrow in Atlanta.
— AT - HawksPRGuy (@HawksPRGuy) January 12, 2012

Zaza Pachulia replaced Horford in the Atlanta lineup and Jason Collins is now the likely backup. Atlanta has already been bitten by the injury bug at the small forward position with both Marvin Williams and Tracy McGrady both out of this game with injuries. Williams is back in Atlanta after suffering an ankle injury on Saturday. McGrady was a late scratch to tonight's game with back spasms.

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well atleast we have an easier stretch

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 11, 2012 10:14 PM EST reply actions

this game was supposed to be easier

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 11, 2012 10:18 PM EST reply actions

there was nothing easy about this game

and anyone that thought it would be wasn’t paying attention. Pacers are undefeated at home and one of the best defensive teams in the league. Wouldn’t have been easy with the Hawks at full strength.

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by Kris Willis on Jan 12, 2012 6:58 AM EST up reply actions

obviously i wasn't

one of the best defensive teams?

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 12, 2012 7:54 AM EST up reply actions

Didn't mean that quite the way it sounded

Look up the numbers the Pacers are putting up defensively particularly at home

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by Kris Willis on Jan 12, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

down three guys

two of them key…..

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 11, 2012 10:22 PM EST reply actions

on the road against a potential playoff team

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 11, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions

I'd say two starters and our best veteran presence off the bench would make that three key guys.

by RamblininAlb on Jan 12, 2012 9:51 AM EST up reply actions

I didn't watch the actual game. I watched the boxscore

after halftime. And I saw nothing but missed jumper for the hawks and lay-ups for the pacers. Are we still losing like this??? I didn’t know Horford got hurt and Tmac didn’t play but man!!!

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 11, 2012 10:50 PM EST reply actions

Twins tech was the highlight of the game

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 11, 2012 11:27 PM EST reply actions

indeed

all players should get one free technical if it is committed on a player with a ponytail.

by Turb0 on Jan 12, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

This is exactly the reason why

not having a young big like Benson or Rolle hurts this team. Hopefully Al will make a speedy recovery otherwise we’re going to need to defensive plan for the barrage of layups we’re going to get.

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 12, 2012 8:38 AM EST reply actions

I doubt either of those two guys would have gotten into the game ahead of Pachulia or Collins

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by Kris Willis on Jan 12, 2012 9:19 AM EST up reply actions

agreed

Larry Drew makes me think I can coach at a professional level.

by Throw on Jan 12, 2012 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

That'll be easier to digest if they could handle an uptempo game

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 12, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

yeah

i’m still suprised we 86’d Benson, We could put that kid on a cornbread diet and get him up to size. he seems pretty quick, has a decent stroke and racked up really good defensive stats in college.

by Turb0 on Jan 12, 2012 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

Because of Ivan's physicallity, he could hold his own at Center better than Benson.

by jdewayneatl on Jan 12, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

True

but it would be nice to try to develop them a little to see what they can provide in a pinch over relying on Collins. That’s my thought..

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Jan 12, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

HEEEEEEYYYYYY

Any word on Horf yet?

by Turb0 on Jan 12, 2012 2:27 PM EST reply actions

Just heard Horford is done for the year.

Michael Cunningham from AJC just send it out on Twitter. Bad news man, didn’t expect to hear that…

"Parfaits might be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet"

by Anonymous HawksGuy on Jan 12, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Ha, and no one second guessed Al coming in out of shape.

And how soft is the boss going up on Hibbert like that.

On another note… Dwight Howard is pretty much stuck in Orlando for the season. Al down, Lopez down, and LA probably doesn’t want to part with Bynum if he is keeps playing like the best center in the league.

by jdewayneatl on Jan 12, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions