Hawks backup C Landale out for beginning of series vs. Knicks

ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks middle Jock Landale he’ll miss not less than the primary two weeks of the NBA playoffs as a result of of his sprained proper ankle.

Landale averaged 9.1 factors and 4.1 rebounds in 23 regular-season video games with Atlanta. He sustained a excessive ankle sprain on April 1 at Orlando. The Hawks say he “is progressing in his rehabilitation” and “will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.” An replace is anticipated after its reevaluation.

Atlanta is the No. 6 seed within the Eastern Conference playoffs and opens its first-round series on the third-seeded New York Knicks on Saturday.

The Hawks addressed a scarcity of depth at middle — Kristaps Porzingis had been unavailable a lot of the season earlier than being traded in February to the Golden State Warriorsand N’Faly Dante is out for the yr — by buying Landale from Utah for money concerns in early February. He by no means performed for the Jazz and was with them lower than a day after being half of an eight-player commerce involving Memphis.

Landale, 30, averaged 11.3 factors and 6.5 rebounds in 45 video games for Memphis.

The Australian is in his fifth NBA season. He made his NBA debut with San Antonio within the 2021-22 season and has additionally performed for Phoenix and Houston.