Onyeka Okongwu Faces Dental Challenges After Elbow Incident

During the Atlanta Hawks’ 117-106 victory over the Boston Celtics, forward Onyeka Okongwu sustained an elbow to the face that may require significant dental work. Following the game, he posted an image on his Instagram Story showing his bloodied mouth and a front tooth that seemed dislocated.

In his post, Okongwu mentioned, “Well done Mr. Bird.”

The injury occurred when Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, attempting to maneuver past a double team involving Okongwu and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, accidentally struck Okongwu with an elbow during the fourth quarter. Brown received a flagrant offensive foul for the incident.

Okongwu managed to return to the bench, re-entered the game to sink two free throws, and contributed a basket that extended the Hawks’ lead to 107-92 over Boston.

After the match, Brown clarified that the elbowing was unintentional and offered his apologies for the injury. “Just be aggressive like always,” he remarked. “It’s just a basketball play. It’s disappointing. Okongwu is a good player.”

Having dealt with facial injuries in the past, Okongwu expressed that he understands the challenges of dental treatment. He hopes for a swift recovery, though he’s uncertain if he will need to sit out any games this season, especially since he has only missed two games thus far.

Following the incident, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder commented on Okongwu’s toughness, saying he took a severe shot. “I told him he was still handsome, but it would be good to have his teeth repaired,” he added. Okongwu finished the game with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists.