Onyeka Okongwu Returns to Atlanta's Starting Five For Matchup Against Charlotte

Okongwu is back after missing the last four games with a dental fracture

Jan 21, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) shoots for three as Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks have won six of their last eight games and now with the trade deadline behind them, they will aim to push for a playoff spot.

Their next opponent is not going to be easy. If you look at the Charlotte Hornets' record of 24-28, it might not impress you, but they have arguably been the best team in the NBA over the past month. They have won eight games in a row and finished the month of January with the third-best net rating in the NBA.

The big news for the Hawks is that Onyeka Okongwu is back for the team after missing the last four games and he is the starting center for the Hawks tonight. Here are the rest of the starters:

G- Dyson Daniels

G- Nickeil Alexander-Walker

F- Zaccharie Risacher

F- Jalen Johnson

C- Onyeka Okongwu

Big Matchup

Charlotte is playing as well as any team in the NBA right now and the Hawks are going to be tasked with slowing them down. The starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabate has been fantastic on both ends of the floor and it will be a huge challenge for the Hawks to slow them down.

Jonatha Kuminga was the most noteworthy addition to the Hawks at the trade deadline, but he is going to be out tonight and won't play until after the All-Star break at the earliest.

Hield and Vincent were not headline additions to the team, but they could bring more depth to Atlanta. Both players have struggled quite a bit this season and are still new to the team, so their impact could be minimal, but look no further than Jock Landale's debut to see that you can make an instant impact after being acquired by a new team.

If the two play, keep an eye on their place in the rotation.

The debut of Landale on the Hawks could not have gone any better. He scored 26 points, including four three pointers, and also had 11 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks in the win over the Jazz, and even if Okongwu makes his return, Landale is still going to play a huge role for this team. He will likely shift to a bench role instead of starting, but he should still be an impact player.

Diabate is a tough matchup on the boards, and that is a place where Landale is very good and will help Atlanta. He should play a crucial role in tonight's game.

Charlotte is playing red hot right now, but the Hawks have a mostly healthy roster coming into the game. This would be an impressive victory for Atlanta.