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(SB Nation Atlanta, Brandon Scott) The Atlanta Hawks will be without their best player Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. According to a report from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Joe Johnson will not play Friday night due to tendinitis in his left knee. Johnson scored a team-high 18 points in 38 minutes in Thursday's loss to the Golden State Warriors, but said he felt discomfort late in the game.
"After the Golden State game, Joe doesn't feel like his knee is 100 percent and he did experience a little discomfort, particularly in the second half," Hawks coach Larry Drew said. "We made the decision to hold him out until that knee gets stronger, until he feels like he is closer to 100 percent."
The Hawks still have to approach tonight's home game as a must-win in this weekend stretch. The Oklahoma City Thunder come into Philips Arena on Saturday and that's before the Hawks hit the road to face Indiana and Miami, two of the Eastern Conference's strongest teams.
Friday's game starts at 7:30 p.m.
UPDATE: From our official Facebook Page:
Joe Johnson and Willie Green will miss the next two games.Per the Hawks PR Release:
HAWKS' JOHNSON IS DAY-TO-DAY, WILL MISS NEXT TWO GAMES
Reserve guard Willie Green to also miss games due to injury
ATLANTA, GA ----- Atlanta guards Joe Johnson and Willie Green will miss at least the next two contests - vs. Milwaukee and Oklahoma City - with injuries, it was announced today by athletic trainer Wally Blase. The status of both players will be re-evaluated prior to the Hawks' six-game, 10-day trip that starts Monday.
Johnson, who missed two games before Sunday's All-Star Game with tendinitis in his right knee, saw action in 26 minutes of Wednesday game against Golden State. Green's injury occurred when the Warriors' David Lee landed on his back and forced him to leave the game in the fourth quarter.