The Hawks were forced to play the last 16 games of the season without co-star John Collins. But now, according The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the 24-year-old could be back as soon as Game 1.
Per Charania, Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins – out since March 11 due to foot and finger injuries – will attempt to play in Game 1 of series vs. Miami on Sunday … “He has been upgraded to questionable.”
Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins – out since March 11 due to foot and finger injuries – will attempt to play in Game 1 of series vs. Miami on Sunday, sources tell me and @ChrisKirschner. He has been upgraded to questionable.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2022
Atlanta was able to fight its way into the eight-seed by going 11-5 down the stretch without Collins. Followed by some late-game heroics from Trae Young in the play-in game to land the Hawks in a matchup with the Heat.
Early in March, Collins was shut down after a plantar fascia tear and a finger injury; an injury he had been fighting through the month prior. Unfortunately, injuries have kind of been the story of Collins’ season.
However, when available, the high-flying forward out of Wake Forest has been terrific; averaging nearly 17 points per game, along with about eight rebounds on over 50 percent from the field.
Collins’ presence in the lineup would be huge for an Atlanta team that could already be down starting center Clint Capela. And with Bam Adebayo back for Miami, the Hawks will need all hands on deck if they have designs on taking down the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed.
The post Hawks Could Receive Major Boost For Playoff Series vs. Heat appeared first on The Spun.