ATLANTA (AP) -
Joe Johnson, the Atlanta Hawks' All-Star guard, returned to Atlanta for an MRI on his ailing left knee Tuesday and will miss at least two games, another blow to a team already missing star center Al Horford.
The Hawks said Johnson would not play in New York against the Knicks on Wednesday or the following night, when the team returns home to face Orlando.
Johnson, who was selected to play in the
All-Star Game for the sixth straight year, will not be able to participate
in Sunday's contest at Orlando.
Johnson, who leads the team in scoring at 17.6 points a game, left in the third quarter of a loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night with what was described as tendinitis. He did not travel with the team to New York, instead returning home for a more extensive examination of his knee.
Horford was injured early in the season and underwent pectoral surgery that will keep him out for most, if not all, of the regular season. There's still a chance he could return if the Hawks make the playoffs.
Atlanta started out with one of the best records in the Eastern Conference, but has lost seven of its last 10 games to fall to sixth in the overall standings.
The team did get a bit of good news. Forward Marvin Williams, who didn't play against the Bulls because he was attending a family member's funeral, is expected to return to the lineup against the Knicks.
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