Atlanta Hawks C Al Horford returns to practice on Thursday
Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford returned to team practice on Thursday, after an illness kept the eighth-year player out of the Hawks' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Despite Horford's absence, the Hawks were able to beat the Cavaliers, 109-101.
Horford said the missed game was the culmination of several weeks of illness. He was set to play against Cleveland, but a late decision was made to hold him out of the game due to flu-like symptoms.
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"I'm doing better," Horford said on Thursday. "I was battling with a cold or flu for a couple of weeks. I thought I was past it. I just started feeling real bad before the game, kind of like vertigo. At that point, we shut it down."
Instead of taking the court on Tuesday, Horford was given intravenous fluids and sent home; back up center Pero Antic started in his place.
Horford, 28, was listed as probable for Atlanta's next game on the team's injury report, and he said he did not expect to miss more time. The Hawks begin a three-game road trip on Friday against the Utah Jazz, before playing the Trail Blazers on Saturday and the Clippers on Monday.
In 30 games this season, Horford is averaging 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30 minutes per game.
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Small forward DeMarre Carroll also missed Thursday's practice due to dehydration; however, coach Mike Budenholzer did not foresee Carroll missing any games.
The Hawks are 23-8 so far this season, second only to the Toronto Raptors (24-8) in the Eastern Conference.
- Christopher Woody
