--The high ankle sprain that has kept F Josh Smith out since Nov. 7 is improving but not to the point where he could return at the two-week mark, which is Friday. It was originally considered a best-case scenario -- that he might return in two to four weeks.
"He'll still be another four or five games probably," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. Smith, who's out of his walking boot, has been walking on the treadmill for several days and hopes to take it up to running Thursday.
"I want it to be two, three games (before a return), but I'm not going to risk injuring it again and being out longer, because it's definitely boring," Smith said. "It's hard to see my teammates out there playing and I'm not able to contribute."
--C Al Horford gave his sprained ankle a try before Wednesday night's game against Washington, but it was a short one. He was back in the locker room within minutes and sat out the game. He'll sit out practice Thursday and likely give it another try for Friday's game against Charlotte.
Horford thought when he injured his ankle in the first quarter in Indiana on Tuesday night he might have a chance to play versus the Wizards. But after morning and afternoon rounds of treatment, it wasn't ready.
"If I can't go to the level that I try to play every night, I'm not going to go because I don't feel like I'll be helping the team or myself either," Horford said before testing his ankle. "I want to be out there, being productive, not limping around."
Zaza Pachulia started at center, and Marvin Williams was moved to power forward. Mo Evans got his third start of the season in Williams' usual small forward spot.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The objective was to win. I don't care what it looked like or what anybody else thinks of it. We just needed to get a win." -- G Mike Bibby, on the Hawks snapping their losing skid at four games with a win over Washington.
