Hawks' Jock Landale Out Significantly After Brutal Foul by Goga Bitadze

Landale suffered a right high-ankle sprain and will miss at least two weeks for the Hawks.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A cubist, multi-perspective painting breaking down a basketball game into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the team's official colors, conceptually representing the physical nature of the sport.A fractured, geometric depiction of the on-court collision that led to Jock Landale's high-ankle sprain, highlighting the physical intensity of the NBA game.Memphis Today

The Atlanta Hawks have announced that center Jock Landale will miss at least the next two weeks due to a right high-ankle sprain he suffered during the team's win over the Orlando Magic. Landale was injured after being pulled down by Goga Bitadze on a close shot attempt, leading to a fracas between the two teams. Landale's absence will be a significant loss for the Hawks' frontcourt as they head into the NBA Playoffs.

Why it matters

Landale has been a key contributor for the Hawks since being acquired at the trade deadline, averaging 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. His injury will force Atlanta to rely more heavily on Onyeka Okongwu and Mo Gueye in the frontcourt, potentially impacting the team's playoff positioning and performance.

The details

Landale suffered the ankle injury during the 7:30 mark of the Hawks' 130-101 win over the Magic on Wednesday. As Landale went up for a shot, he was pulled down by Goga Bitadze, leading to a fracas between the two teams. Bitadze was ejected with a flagrant foul 2, while Landale was ruled out of the game.

  • Landale was injured during the Hawks' game against the Magic on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The Hawks announced Landale will miss at least the next two weeks on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Jock Landale

A center for the Atlanta Hawks who was acquired at the trade deadline and has been a key contributor, averaging 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Goga Bitadze

A player for the Orlando Magic who was ejected from the game for committing a flagrant foul 2 on Landale.

Onyeka Okongwu

The Hawks' starting center who will need to shoulder an increased load with Landale out.

Mo Gueye

The Hawks' primary backup center who will now see more playing time with Landale sidelined.

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What’s next

The Hawks will need to rely more heavily on Onyeka Okongwu and Mo Gueye in the frontcourt while Landale recovers from his ankle injury. The team will also need to monitor Landale's progress and provide updates on his expected return timeline.

The takeaway

Landale's injury is a significant setback for the Hawks as they prepare for the playoffs, but the team will need to adapt and find ways to overcome his absence in the frontcourt. This incident also highlights the physical nature of the NBA game and the risks players face, underscoring the importance of player safety.