Overview
- Hart will miss Saturday's game against the Hawks with a right ankle sprain suffered late in the Christmas win over the Cavaliers after stepping on Dean Wade’s foot.
- McBride has been upgraded to questionable after missing recent games with a left ankle sprain sustained on Dec. 7.
- Head coach Mike Brown offered no update on Hart’s timeline and the team skipped a Friday practice before traveling, keeping roles unsettled.
- Options under consideration include starting McBride or deploying a double-big alignment with Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns, with rookie Mohamed Diawara having started the last time Hart sat.
- Hart’s absence removes a key starter for a team that is 11-3 when he opens, while Tyler Kolek’s emergence has helped cover the backcourt during McBride’s layoff.