Hawks Lose Another Center When Collins Goes Down

ATLANTA (AP) – Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collins has left Thursday night’s game against Memphis after he sprained his left elbow.

The Hawks say he won’t return, dealing another blow to Atlanta’s short-handed center position. The team is already without All-Star Al Horford, who is expected to miss most, if not all, of the regular season after undergoing surgery for a torn left pectoral muscle.

Collins was injured late in the first quarter when he dove for a loose ball and got his arm caught under Dante Cunningham of the Grizzlies. He walked off the court holding his elbow.

The 7-foot Collins was averaging just 11.3 minutes and 1.1 points a game, but at least gives the Hawks another big body in the middle.