Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu out with dental fracture after elbow to the face
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Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu will miss at least Thursday night’s game against the Houston Rockets after sustaining a dental fracture in the club’s 115-109 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
The injury occurred early in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena when Boston guard Jaylen Brown’s elbow struck Okongwu in the mouth as Brown controlled the ball. Officials assessed a flagrant foul on Brown. Bleeding from the mouth, Okongwu stepped to the line to complete his free throw before leaving for the locker room.
Postgame examination confirmed that at least one tooth was lost. The Hawks did not announce a timetable beyond ruling the 23-year-old out for Thursday’s road contest in Houston.
“He’s tough,” head coach Quin Snyder said after the game. “It’s a good thing dentistry is a profession. He’s going to need some work.”
Brown apologized for the contact, calling it accidental. “It wasn’t intentional,” the Celtics guard said. “I know it’s going to be a long day at the dentist for him, so hopefully he has a good recovery.” Brown experienced a similar setback two seasons ago when a collision with teammate Jayson Tatum left him with a maxillary facial fracture and chipped teeth, an injury that sidelined him for four games.
Okongwu, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is averaging 10.2 points and 6.4 rebounds this season while backing up All-Star center Clint Capela.
Source: ESPN
