Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu left Friday’s game against the New York Knicks in the first quarter after suffering an apparent laceration above his eye. Before exiting, Okongwu was off to a strong start at Madison Square Garden, scoring 11 points in just seven minutes. He headed to the locker room with a little over a minute remaining in the opening quarter to receive treatment for the injury.

There were initial doubts about his possible return after a head laceration. However, Onyeka Okongwu returned in the second quarter sporting stitches and a bandage above his eye following a collision in the first quarter (with Knicks’ Kevin McCullar Jr. during a steal attempt).

The Hawks center added two more points in the next six minutes of action. With the Hawks building a commanding lead (up 20+ by the third quarter and never trailing after the first), Okongwu’s minutes were managed more conservatively in the blowout. He checked back in late in the third quarter and connected on back-to-back floaters to help push the lead to 24 points at one point.

By the end of the third quarter, Okongwu had 17 points on 53.8% shooting from the field (7-of-13 overall at that stage) and 50.0% from three (3-of-6). The Hawks were en route to their second straight victory after snapping a season-high seven-game losing streak.

Okongwu has been leading the Hawks’ offense alongside Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who took the center stage in the absence of Trae Young. The Hawks guard missed the third game with a right quad contusion.

Okongwu ended the game with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in just 29 minutes, as the Hawks recorded their second win in a row. They have now won two of the three games that Young has missed.

Jalen Johnson delivered a triple-double (18 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) to lead Atlanta, while the Hawks held the Knicks (23-10 entering) to under 100 points for the first time this season.

The win came despite a slow start (Knicks led 11-2 early), but Atlanta flipped the script by outscoring New York in the paint and on second-chance opportunities, with strong contributions from Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard (12 points each).

Onyeka Okongwu sees more minutes with the Hawks, as Trae Young’s future faces tough questions

On December 27, Atlanta lost to New York in a must-win game, extending its losing streak to six games. However, as they watched the disaster unfolding right in front of them, the Hawks fans found hope in it, watching Onyeka Okongwu take on the Knicks from the start.

He opened the night, scoring six of his team’s first eight points, and more importantly, all of his points came from the 3-point line.

This season, Okongwu has seen his role undergo a drastic change. He has seen more minutes and attempts, and taken three more shots, than in his previous season, and is averaging three more points than in his last season.

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While it is true that Okongwu’s field-goal percentage has seen a dip, Atlanta is encouraging him to take up the starting center’s role, and he is embracing it quickly. In 34 games this season, Okongwu has had four 20-point double-doubles, including a 30-point double-double against the Knicks.

Okongwu’s rise has coincided with serious questions about Trae Young’s future in Atlanta, as the team didn’t offer him an extension this summer. The reports suggest that the Hawks plan to emulate the Rockets’ approach, overwhelming the floor with length to bolster their defense.

They are a better team without Trae Young, at least statistically. Last week, Tim Bontemps noted on the Hoop Collective podcast that without Young, the Hawks were a great defensive team, but with him, their numbers were drastically bad.

The Hawks’ offense doesn’t see a drastic change with Young on the floor. However, their defensive ratings see a drastic change (for the worse), by almost eight points. His impact is also apparent in the win-loss percentage this season. They have a 2-8 record with him, and 14-11 without him.

Perhaps this Hawks season doesn’t have much hope. However, it is a turning point in Onyeka Okongwu’s career, and he is capitalizing on it really well.