Tiago Splitter injury: Hawks center out with calf strain

The Atlanta Hawks will be without reserve center Tiago Splitter for at least the next two games due to a mild calf strain. The team announced on Sunday that Splitter did not make the trip to Indiana and will also miss Tuesday's game in Houston. Splitter's status will be reevaluated again later this week.

Splitter left Saturday's game against the Knicks with lower leg muscle soreness after playing just four minutes and did not return. A follow-up examination revealed the minor calf strain. Splitter missed seven games earlier this season with a sore hip. He has appeared in 23 games so far this season and is averaging 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16 minutes.

The injury comes at an inopportune for the Hawks and for Splitter who seemed to be settling into his role. When healthy, Splitter has played well and is leads the team in defensive rating at 93.5. With Splitter out, Mike Muscala will likely step into the rotation as the team's backup center behind starter Al Horford.

Kyle Korver and Thabo Sefolosha are both listed as "probable" on the team's updated injury report.