The Atlanta Hawks (22-25 straight up, 20-27 against the spread) suffered a massive blow Wednesday morning when reports revealed that star forward Jalen Johnson needs season-ending surgery for a torn labrum.

Johnson was enjoying a breakout campaign. In 36 regular-season games, Johnson was averaging 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per game.

The 6-foot-8 fourth-year player had made 50.0 percent of his field-goal attempts, 31.2 percent of his 3-pointers and 74.6 percent of his free throws. Johnson missed five games earlier this month with a shoulder issue.

However, he returned on Jan. 18 to help Atlanta win 119-115 at Boston in overtime. Johnson produced 14 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one blocked shot in the win as a nine-point road underdog.

Johnson contributed 11 points, 12 boards and four assists in a loss at New York nine days ago. Then in a 114-104 home loss to Detroit last Wednesday, he finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, six steals and four assists.

But in last Thursday’s home loss vs. Toronto, Johnson was forced to leave the game early after injuring his shoulder again when he blocked a layup attempt by the Raptors’ Scottie Barnes.

Johnson’s game began to blossom last season when he averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.8 BPG.

Atlanta sat veterans Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic in last night’s 100-96 loss vs. Houston. That move seemingly indicated that either or both players could be moved before next week’s NBA trade deadline.

The Hawks have lost six straight games, but they have covered the spread in back-to-back contests. They return to the court tomorrow night at Cleveland.

Atlanta is currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of Chicago for the final spot in the play-in round. The Hawks trail Detroit by 1.5 games for the East’s eighth slot and is 2.5 games back of Orlando for the seventh seed.