Hawks' Larry Nance Jr. out indefinitely, set to undergo hand surgery

The Atlanta Hawks will be without Larry Nance Jr. for the foreseeable future.

The Hawks forward is set to undergo surgery for a broken bone in his right hand later this week, the team said on Monday. He will be out indefinitely, and the Hawks will determine a timeline for his return after the procedure on Thursday.

Nance injured his right hand during Saturday's win against the Miami Heat. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds and played 27 minutes in that game. He actually finished the contest without issue, though the Hawks revealed the injury later.

More specifically, Nance fractured the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand. He broke the same bone in his left hand in 2021 and needed surgery, which cost him 12 games. Based on that projection, assuming he doesn't face any setbacks, Nance could be back on the court by the end of January.

Nance has been very solid for the Hawks off the bench this season, his first with the team after he was traded there this offseason as part of a deal that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. The 31-year-old has averaged 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes per game. Nance, who the Los Angeles Lakers took with the No. 27 overall pick in 2015, is set to be a free agent this summer.

The Hawks, who have won four straight, currently hold an 18-15 record heading into Wednesday’s contest against the Denver Nuggets.