The Atlanta Hawks will be without Larry Nance Jr. for the foreseeable future.
The Hawks forward will undergo surgery for a broken bone in his right hand later this week, the team said Monday. He will be out indefinitely and the Hawks will determine a timetable for his return after the procedure on Thursday.
Nance injured his right hand during Saturday’s win against the Miami Heat. He scored 10 points and 10 rebounds and played 27 minutes in that game. In fact, he finished the contest without issue, although the Hawks revealed the injury later.
More specifically, Nance fractured the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand. He broke the same bone in his left hand in 2021 and required surgery, costing him 12 games. Based on that projection, assuming he doesn’t face any setbacks, Nance could return to the court in late January.
Nance has been very solid for the Hawks off the bench this season, his first with the team after he was traded there this offseason as part of a deal that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. The 31-year-old has averaged 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in almost 20 minutes per game. Nance, whom the Los Angeles Lakers selected with the 27th overall pick in 2015, will become a free agent this summer.
The Hawks, who have won four straight, currently have a record of 18-15 heading into Wednesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.