Atlanta Hawks forward Saddiq Bey will miss the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, dealing another significant blow to the already injury-ridden team.
The Hawks have already been without two starters — leading scorer Trae Young and Jalen Johnson — as well as backup center Onyeka Okongwu.
Now, they’ve lost another starter while sitting at 29-35 and clinging to the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
“We’ve just been dropping guys and dropping guys,” guard Dejounte Murray said. “It’s tough. I think injuries are what it comes down to (as far as) dictating how your season goes for a lot of teams.”
Bey left Sunday’s 116-103 loss to New Orleans with what was initially described as a hyperextended left knee. An MRI later revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament, necessitating season-ending surgery.
Atlanta Hawks Team (Via Getty Images)
Bey fell to the floor in pain after stopping short and getting fouled with 10:41 remaining. He stayed in the game to make one of two free throws before being removed and heading to the locker room with a slight limp. He finished the game with 14 points and five rebounds.
In his second season with the Hawks, Bey appeared in 63 games with 51 starts, averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds.
The 19th pick in the 2020 draft from Villanova, Bey began his career with the Detroit Pistons before being traded to the Hawks last season.
Atlanta Hawks Team (Via Atlanta Hawks/Twitter)
The Hawks lost Young, their All-Star point guard, for at least a month after he tore a ligament in his left pinkie in a Feb. 23 loss to Toronto. Johnson has missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle.
Okongwu went down before the All-Star break with a sprained left big toe. He is no longer wearing a walking boot but will be re-evaluated in at least another week.
Additionally, little-used rookie guard Kobe Bufkin, the team’s first-round pick, is now in a walking boot due to a sprained left big toe.
“That’s been the thing for us all year,” Murray said. “We’ve just been trying to get healthy and see what we can do with everybody healthy.”
