TITLE: Porzingis, Johnson Cleared to Play as Hawks Face Nuggets on Friday
SLUG: porzingis-johnson-cleared-to-play-vs-nuggets
CONTENT:
ATLANTA — Kristaps Porzingis is set to rejoin the Atlanta Hawks lineup Friday night against the Denver Nuggets after missing four games because of an unspecified illness, head coach Quin Snyder said before tip-off.
Snyder noted that the 7-foot-3 center will be monitored closely and will play under a minutes restriction, though the team did not reveal the exact limit. Porzingis had been listed as “questionable” earlier in the day with a designation of “return to competition reconditioning,” rather than the illness that sidelined him for the past 10 days.
Porzingis, 30, was previously sidelined late in the 2024-25 season and throughout the playoffs by an illness later diagnosed as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Team officials have not indicated whether the current setback is related. The Latvian big man is on track to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Forward Jalen Johnson will also be available Friday after sitting out Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with tightness in his right calf. The Hawks characterized Wednesday’s decision as precautionary.
Johnson, who turns 24 in two weeks, has posted career-best numbers while Trae Young recovers from a knee injury. Over his past 12 games, the fifth-year pro is averaging 24.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.7 steals in 36.8 minutes, shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from three-point range and 77.5 percent at the free-throw line.
Source: Hoops Rumors
